Every major car-maker offers sat-nav systems at most model levels in continental Europe, but in Ireland they have been limited to the upper executive end.
They come as standard, for instance, in higher-spec BMW 7-Series or Lexus LS 430, but if you want one in your Lexus IS 200 it will cost you an extra €4,700. BMW will charge €3,030 for something similar where it's an option on the model.
The new Mercedes CLS offers its system only as part of an infotainment package at €3,470 and there's a more bells-and-whistles option for €5,768.
These are not cheap, and up to now, unless the owner was inclined to take the car abroad a lot, they didn't make economic sense even at the fairly esoteric car price levels.
Systems can vary in user-friendliness. Some, such as those in some Lexus models, depend on the driver looking at the central screen or just following the audio directions from "herself behind the dashboard"; others, as in Mercedes cars, include a subsidiary indicator directly in the instrument panel in front of the driver, which is arguably less distracting.
Increasingly, sat-nav is filtering down as an option in more ordinary cars.
Opel's Astra Sport Hatch and Renault's Laguna are new examples. The Renault system costs around €2,000 and includes a stereo upgrade, while the one in the Opel is a factory-fitted option, the cost of which was not available as we went to press.
Perhaps, as in most European countries, increasing demand from taxis and hackneys may bring down the costs.
Really though, if your Micra is costing €15,000, there are many extras on most people's lists before lashing out thousands of euro on a sat-nav, even if one was available.
There are cheaper options, though. Companies such as TomTom produce fix-to-dash aftermarket systems as well as software and maps that can transform your humble PDA into a personal sat-nav system.
Increasingly, these include Ireland's major towns and the link roads. For instance, the US-based Garmin company has CDs in its City Navigator series which are used to operate hardware such as the Atlantic Streetpilot - current coverage includes Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford, and all of County Kerry.
The TomTom GO 300 unit is available for less than €600, and promises "door-to-door" route planning if your required city is on the options. I used one in Rome recently and found it very useful.
Similar and similarly-priced units include the Navman iCN 510, but there have been mixed reports about the quality and extent of the maps for Ireland.
Some of these portable units can take several minutes to get a "fix" on your position, and for regular in-car use an external antenna might be wise. For motorcyclists, and pedestrians, this isn't a problem.
Companies such as Wayfarer provide software packages from as low as around €100 which give you maps and routing information on your PDA or even your GPRS-compatible mobile. The firm lists Ireland as among its European maps. You can subscribe for annual updates.