The Dublin rental boom continues, although the housing agency, Threshold, says the lower end of the market is shrinking. At the top end are some of the most expensive rental properties in the State.

Two-bedroom apartments are available at Dunloe Hall, in Merrion Street, opposite Government buildings at approximately £1,400 a month.

Ballsbridge is commanding most of the higher rents in the city. Last week, an unfurnished four-bedroom house on Anglesea Road, Ballsbridge, was offered at £3,250 a month. A three-bedroom penthouse apartment in the same area can be rented for about £4,500 a month, according to one executive letting agency.

Middle-range properties in Dublin go for between £700 and £1,500 a month.

New family homes in suburban areas like Castleknock and Rathfarnham are proving popular, according to letting firms. Three- and four-bedroom semis in these areas are available from £700 to £1,000 a month.

One-bedroom apartments along the quays and around the Customs House command rents of about £500 per month, with rents for two-bedroom apartments starting at about £650.

Shannon Region

The most expensive rental properties in this region are in towns like Killaloe, Co Clare, where a significant number of houses rent for £700 a month, often more. They tend to be rented by people working in the Shannon area or by employees of large computer companies like Dell.

These houses come with at least two bathrooms and are often situated on three-quarters of an acre of land. For example, last week, £700 a month would get you a four-bedroomed detached unfurnished house at Ardlieu, Ballina in Killaloe.

A three-bedroom apartment on Shelbourne Road, Limerick, with private car-parking was renting at £400 a month last week, while a two-bedroom apartment in Cherrydale was available at £350 per month. A threebedroom house at Kiltegragh, Dooradoyle, Co Limerick, was available to rent at £500 a month.

In the centre of the city there are a large number of two-bedroom apartments at Steamboat Quay and Knockhill, Ennis Road, renting for at least £400 a month. For more modest rents, older houses are available in areas like Raheen for £350 a month.

Cork

The most expensive rental properties are in areas like Douglas, Blackrock, and Montenotte and parts of the west of the city. A four-bedroom semi in one of these areas, particularly those situated beside the new link road are normally available at between £800 and £1,000 a month.

The location is all important, even within the Douglas area itself, with prices ranging from £450 up to £1,500.

In terms of apartments, a two-bedroom in the above areas usually rents for about £550 a month, with three-bedroom units at about £660. In satellite towns like Carraigaline, a four-bedroom house rents at between £600 and £800 a month. A four-bedroom semi in Wilton will normally be available for between £400 and £450.

Galway

Prices in Galway range from more than £1,000 a month at the top end of the market to £300 to £400 at the lower end. The main areas in the city for rental property are Newcastle, Salthill, Mervue and various locations along the canal.

For example a three-bedroom semidetached bungalow was available last week at the new Canal Court complex, near the university hospital for £800 a month.

One of the most expensive rented properties being offered in the Galway last week, was a luxury three-bedroom semi-detached house in Ryneville, near Galway Bay Golf and Country club. The letting agency is seeking £900 a month for a long-term tenancy.

Another agency is offering tw-bedroom apartments in Newcastle for between £605 and £650 per month, although some of these do not come with any parking facilities.

Cheaper rents are available in Knocknacarra, with three-bedroom houses going for between £300 and £350 a month and upwards. Houses six or seven miles out normally command rents of about £300.

Waterford

In the city area two-bedroom apartments normally rent for about £400 a month, with one-bedroom apartments renting for about £300 and £350 a month. These are located in areas like Scotch Quay, William Street and Park Road. Parklands, a rental development which has just come on the market, includes 14 two-bedroom apartments of 800 sq ft each and they are available to rent at £450 a month.

Another popular area for rented accommodation is Lismore Park, where three-bedroom houses rent for between £350 and £400 a month.

Most letting agents contacted by The Irish Times said rents above £450 were rare, although four-bedroom houses on the Dunmore Road have been renting at between £500 and £530 a month in recent weeks. There are smaller units in various locations around the city, with the cheapest at about £120 a month for bedsit accommodation.

Kilkenny

Kilkenny's letting agents say rents are rising fast and they are seeing the first waves of Dublin commuters moving into the city. Since the start of the year, some three-bedroom houses on the Johnsville Road have been commanding rents of £450.

One popular area is Abbey Road where three-bedroom houses and two-bedroom apartments are commanding rents between £400 and £420, with similar accommodation in the Larchfield area available at £450 a month.

A recently completed three-bedroom housing development in the Deans Court area has rents of £500 a month, which is exceptionally high for the city. See also `Bacon report offers little comfort for tenants', opposite page