Although land in the older, more established areas of the town is no longer available, development is still taking place within the town limits of Tralee, according to auctioneer Gerard Carmody from DNG W H Giles.

There has been little development of outlying villages with people choosing to buy in Tralee and commute to work in the likes of Abbeyfeale and Killorglin.

Planning permission has become "extremely onerous" in Co Kerry for once-off rural development, according to Mr Carmody.

It's next to impossible to get once-off sites and, when they do come on the market, they are usually well out of the price range for first-time buyers, he said.

As a result, young people who would prefer to live in rural areas are now getting on the property ladder in Tralee, with a view to selling up in a number of years and moving out to the country, he added.

Starting prices for first-time buyers in Tralee are in the region of €130,000 for an ex-local authority house to €140,000 for a two-bed apartment.

A two/three-bed townhouse costs in the region of €150,000.

Prices for new homes in a housing estate will start at €175,000-€190,000 for a basic three-bed terrace house and go up to €190,000-€215,000 for a basic three-bed semi.

A larger three-bed detached dormer will cost in the region of €225,000 to €250,000.

With about 25 housing estates to choose from and up to 300 residential units being built for the last three years, first-time buyers have lots of choice, according to Eddie Barrett from North's Estate Agents.

New developments in the town include Caherslee out on the Fenit Road and Ballyvelly out on the Glenbeigh Road.

Three-bed semis cost in the region of €250,000 in both these developments and mid-terrace townhouses start at €184,000.

A new residential scheme is in the pipeline for the Oakpark area, which will see about 100 units being built.