CO KILKENNY FROM €150,000:Although the Section 23 tax relief scheme ended this summer, there are still a good number left for sale at good prices. Fiona Tyrrelllooks at a launch of apartments in Kilkenny.

THE LATEST batch of units at a large mixed-use scheme in Kilkenny city comes to the market with price cuts of up to 40 per cent as well as tax breaks.

The ambitious MacDonagh Junction scheme, focused on the area around the city's railway station, incorporates retail and office elements as well as 100 apartments.

The final 30 units go on sale this weekend. One-bed apartments are priced from €150,000, two-bed apartments are priced from €192,000 and three-bed units are priced from €231,000.

Prices have been cut by around 40 per cent since the units were last launched this time last year.

Parking spaces are included in these prices. Last year they cost an extra €20,000.

All units qualify for Section 23 tax relief. Purchasers of Section 23 units can offset the qualifying relief against rental income from any type of property in Ireland.

Joint selling agents Douglas Newman Good New Homes and DNG Ella Dunphy will be opening show units this weekend to give potential buyers a flavour of what is on offer.

Firmly aimed at the investor market, prices also include a rental furniture package. Twenty of the 30 units on sale this week are already let and are achieving rents between €650 for one-bed units up to €900 for three-beds.

The retail element of the €300 million new quarter in Kilkenny city opened for business in 2007 and has 31 shops including Dunnes Stores, TK Maxx and Virgin Megastore and three more to open by Christmas.

An attractive element of the scheme is Workhouse Square, a food court area housed within a series of listed buildings.