House prices continue slowdown

New house prices rose by 1.7% in the first quarter of the year and by 6.2% in Dublin, according to latest figures from the Dept of the Environment.

The second-hand market saw rises of 2.6% nationally and 1.4% in Dublin.

Housing output is also on the up, particularly in the social housing sector, with 800 houses acquired in the first three months of the year.