The cost of well-located apartments in Dublin is edging up, judging by a survey of sales prices that has landed on our desk. The most expensive flat in Dublin is, rather surprisingly, not in Dublin 4, the city centre, or even south Dublin - it's on the road to Howth, on the top floor of a swish new apartment block called Corr Castle, built by Ellier Developments, which is headed by Francis Rhatigan and Chris Jones. A two-bedroom penthouse in Corr Castle has just sold for £950,000, a staggering £678 a sq. ft. Prices for one-bedroom units in the scheme started at £241 per sq. ft. The penthouses had a high-spec fit-out and a distant view of the sea.

Sea views also pushed up the prices in Monkstown, where three-bedroom penthouses at de Vesci House, opposite the Purty Kitchen, made no less than £534 per sq. ft. With a floor area of 1,075 sq. ft, these homes were priced at £575,000. Prices have also been rising rapidly in Temple Bar. Recent sales include a three-bedroom apartment for £400,000, equating to £412 per sq. ft. One of the surprisingly high prices was the £416 per sq. ft paid for a three-bedroom penthouse (costing £400,000) at The Ramparts in Loughlinstown.

Apartments in older buildings have also been attracting top prices. Four flats in 12 Adelaide Road, Dublin 4, made between £445 and £470 per sq. ft and although the largest unit only had 425 sq. ft it still made £199,900.