Residential property prices are continuing to climb. Figures released from the CSO show a national increase of just over 8% in the year to February.

This compares with an increase of 6.3% in January and a decrease of 2.6% in the 12 months to February 2013.

In Dublin, although prices fell slightly in February, residential properties are now over 13.3% more expensive than they were a year ago.

Dublin house prices fell by 0.6% in the month and were 13.6% higher compared to a year earlier. While Dublin apartment prices were 10.5% higher when compared with the same month of 2013.

Outside of Dublin, prices went up by just under 1% in February, compared to a drop of over 2% in the same month in 2013.

Residential property prices in Dublin are 50% lower than at their highest level in February 2007. While the fall in property prices outside of the capital is somewhat lower at 46.4%.

Overall, the CSO says the national index is 46.7% lower than its highest level in 2007.