Accompanying the results, Dr Edward Hanna, a lecturer in climate change at Sheffield University, commented that "over the past century, the global sea level has been steadily rising by 1.5mm to 3mm a year, which is alarmingly high considering that, for the previous 3,000 years, the rate was only 0.1mm to 0.2mm a year . . . which represents an increase of over 1,000%!"

While Ireland will be subject to the same broad environmental impacts as the UK, it seems that Irish buyers do not have the same fears of flooding as their British counterparts. Finding a property they can afford in the area they want is a much more immediate concern for Irish buyers, according to Geoff Tucker, an economist with auctioneers Hooke and MacDonald.

In fact, Tucker points out, in Ireland it is properties in coastal locations that attract the highest prices and any property close to water generally commands a premium and is highly sought after.

Oisin Coghlan, director of Friends of the Earth in Ireland, believed that a survey in Ireland similar to that by houseprices. co. uk would not produce the same results because the debate here is not as advanced as in Britain.

"I don't think the penny has dropped with either the Irish public or Irish government that climate change is something that will hit home unless we take proper action, " says Coghlan.

"It is clear the most likely impact will be more floods and storms, and it is in property prices and insurance premiums that we will feel the heat first."

While organisations such as Coastwatch Ireland class the problem as a major issue and, in Dublin, the Greater Dublin Bay Alliance has highlighted "high risks" in areas such as Clontarf, Fairview, Sandymount, Ringsend and the Tolka basin, the impact has not yet been felt by the insurance industry.

In its 2005 annual report, for example, Hibernian Ireland said weather-related claims were below long-term averages.

In July, the Department of the Environment and Local Government published a public consultation paper on climate change, and the public have until 30 September to make submissions on the issue.

"People should be aware that we are going to see environmental impact from climate change, and should be taking the coastal question into consideration when buying a house, " Coghlan advises.