"There's never been higher demand for office accommodation in the city but, with so little available because of the shortage of land in prime locations, the attractions of docklands are set to increase further, " says Marie Hunt, CBRE Gunne's head of research.

"Already it's the case that if you're occupying office space in the 2/4 area or in docklands you're going to be paying the same rent. In reality, they're deemed to be the same area." These two areas of the capital continue to be the most highly sought after office locations, accounting for more than half of office lettings agreed in Dublin since the beginning of the year. With limited supply, rental values in these areas are continuing to edge upwards. Prime office rents in key Dublin locations are now in the order of �?�592 per sq m per annum.

According to Hunt, the report will also identify the huge potential for office and commercial development in the Dublin Airport region, but this is unlikely to come on stream, she believes, until the proposed new Metro line is in operation.

"We're predicting a lot more commercial activity in north Co Dublin. The appetite for property development will certainly increase but not before the new Metro line is in place. . . it's when the infrastructure is in place that things will start to happen. That's what we saw with Sandyford when the Luas went out there. Even though everyone knew it was coming, the lettings and the deals didn't start happening until it was up and running."