101 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the average price of a new house in Dublin and nationally in July 1997 and the current average price of a new house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7461/07]

My Department publishes quarterly house price data compiled from returns from the mortgage lending institutions. The average new house price in the July to September quarter 1997 was €123,537 in Dublin and €104,146 nationally.

In the second quarter of 2006, the most recent period for which complete returns have been received from lending financial institutions, the average new house price was €397,337 in Dublin and €308,302 nationally.