Private sector rents rose by nearly 7% in the first three months of the year, compared to the same time in 2014.
The latest Private Residential Tenancies Board's (PRTB) Quarterly Rent Index shows the average national cost for private rental accommodation hit €835 during that time, up from €781 in the same period last year.
The figures show that rents for houses were 6.5% higher than they were in the first quarter of 2014, and 7.8% for apartments.
Rents in Dublin rose by around 9% for houses and 10.8% for apartments in the first quarter - with the average cost of renting a house reaching €1,325 and €1,205 for an apartment.
Compared to the final quarter of 2014, monthly rents nationally increased by 1.2% in the first quarter of this year.
The PRTB says the figures suggest "the driver of growth changed in Q1, 2015, with rents outside Dublin showing a stronger rate of increase than Dublin rents."
Director of the PRTB Anne Marie Caulfield says rents are rising faster in the commuter belt as consumers try to avail of cheaper prices.
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Ms Cauflield said "Kildare, Meath and Wicklow are showing the most significant increases," but explained it's quite a mixed picture 'beyond the pale'.
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