Restaurants in Dublin city centre could start to drive each other out of business if they're not spread out.

That's according to the Restaurants Association of Ireland, which is warning the market's at saturation point in Dublin 2 and 4.

Figures compiled by the Sunday Times reveal 70 new restaurants set up shop in the city in the last year and a half.

Adrian Cummins, chief executive of the Restaurants Association, says it's vital planners get the balance right.

"We need to be careful that we don't have an over saturation of restaurants in Dublin. A lot of this is property driven from what we can see. The owners of these buildings are property developers trying to get high rent.

"We want to make sure that we have a sustainable restaurant industry in Dublin."