Dublin's commuter belt used to be relatively tight. Dun Laoghaire to the south, Lucan to the east, Swords to the north. Maybe some intrepid people would travel to the capital from such far-flung places as Balbriggan or Bray.

But the majority of people who worked in the city lived in the city, and anyone travelling from (perish the thought) a neighbouring county was regarded with amusement and not a little suspicion.

How times have changed. A 50-mile radius around O'Connell Bridge is now regarded as an acceptable commute for tens of thousands of people.

There have even been stories of people commuting to Dublin from as far as Shannon.

Of course, it helps that the transport infrastructure has improved, and it helps that there is now readily available high-quality employment, which has built up around Dublin's great orbital route, the M50. Indeed, much of the industry which has been built up around Dublin can be found in areas such as Sandyford, Citywest, Leixlip and Blanchardstown, which means that a drive from outside of county Dublin to a place of employment can be as easy as a drive to the city from one of the outlying suburbs. And, in many cases, the drive is easier . . . ask anyone driving from Dun Laoghaire to the city what it is like to move at an average of about five miles per hour in rush hour traffic.

It goes without saying that much of the reason for this exodus is the high price of housing in Dublin, and, conversely, the relatively lower price of land in the surrounding counties. But there are also quality of life issues, and many people, especially those with families, will prefer the relative calm of a satellite town to the pressure and hubbub of city life.

Still, prices will be higher in Dublin because more people want to live there, so there has to be some trade-off when it comes to paying the lower prices outside of the capital.

A perceived lack of amenities is one of the downsides to living outside of the city (especially for people born and raised in Dublin), while the actual cost of the commute is another consideration (when petrol prices peak, it can have an effect on people travelling a round trip of 100 miles per day).

But, while little can be done about the actual distance that people have to travel, at least journey times are being cut through the development of new roads and motorways which radiate like spokes in a semicircular sweep from the capital into the neighbouring counties. And, in terms of amenities, the reality is that many of these formerly rural communities and small towns are building up the critical mass needed to sustain commercial and lifestyle developments.

North Meath It is hardly surprising that Meath should have seen a considerable boom in development with the re-evaluation of what it means to be a commuter. Right on the doorstep of North and West Dublin, it has a number of urban centres which were primed for development . . .

notably Ashbourne, Ratoath and, signally, Navan, whose population has swelled to about 25,000, and which was the fastest growing town in Ireland in the period between the 1996 and 2002 censuses.

That population is predicted to hit 60,000 by 2011, and will be helped in any future commute by the development of the M3 motorway . . . architectural digs are already being carried out to pave the way for future road development.

Nevertheless, there was a certain amount of overbuilding, especially in Navan, which has led to something of a stagnation in the very recent building market.

Which is fairly good news for first-time buyers, in that a three-bed semi in Navan will cost about 315,000, while two-bed apartments are coming in at up to 265,000 (the price is often inflated due to tax incentives).

Only 25 minutes from Navan in Kingscourt (officially in Cavan), Sullivan Property Consultants will soon be selling a development called An Cluain Dara, which will consist of apartments, semi-detached houses and detached houses. However, Sullivan's Drogheda office is also selling a new development, albeit in an entirely different part of Meath. An Colmchille in Bettystown is offering one, two and threebed apartments priced at 235,000, 275,000 and 300,000 respectively. Due to a number of developments, the village of Bettystown is now becoming a town in its own right, and An Colmchille forms part of a new Town Centre development which is boosting the amenities available to the locals. About seven miles from Drogheda and about half an hour from Swords, Bettystown is a solid example of a former holiday village, which is becoming a popular commuter town.

Also off the motorway, Sullivan Property Consultants is selling a high-end low-density development of detached dormer homes in Stamullen.

These are priced at 700,000.

For further information contact Sullivan Property Consultants on 041-983 6453 Meath and Kildare The Enfield area of Meath is one, which was simply waiting to be developed. Off the spectacular new stretch of M4 motorway which gives a clear run to the M50, it is still a pleasant small town with the sorts of qualities that should be expected from a rural setting, albeit one which is close to Dublin and which, in the past, was one of the most notorious bottlenecks on the road to Galway. Its new growing population is also being served by a number of new commercial developments, with purpose-built shop units coming to the town for the first time in a long time.

Property Team Carey, based in Enfield, has been selling a number of properties in Enfield and the surrounding areas for a number of years, and it is currently offering a new development called Temple Mills in Rathangan, which is actually closer to the M7 than it is to the M4 (close to Naas), and is in Co Kildare. This development of three-bed homes is set up in an usual layout, on the outskirts of the village, with an inner and an outer circle of properties. The homes measure 110sq m (1,184sq ft) with utility room and are priced at 315,000.

Back in Enfield, Property Team Carey is also selling a development called Newcastle Woods, which starts at 340,000 for a townhouse;

350,000 for a semi-detached house; 375,000 for a 121sq m (1,304sq ft) four-bed semi and 425,000 for a 139sq m (1,500sq ft) four-bed house.

There are also a number of elaborate 214sq m (2,300sq ft) detached houses, and prices area available on application For further information contact Property Team Carey on 046-954 1064 Louth It's wonderful what a new road can do. Even Dundalk could be considered a commuter town these days, and that is practically in Northern Ireland. But there are a number of smaller towns, which have sprung up on the commuter belt in a straight line north of Dublin . . . and one of these is Castlebellingham.

Named for the 17th Century castle about halfway between Drogheda and Dundalk, Castlebellingham is only about a 40-minute drive to Dublin Airport, and only a five-minute drive to Dundalk.

It is also two minutes from the motorway. But what can you buy there?

Property Team Malone is currently offering a number of units in Bellingham Heights, in the heart of the village. 76sq m (818sq ft) twobed ground floor apartments are priced at 275,000; 113sq m (1,221sq ft) first floor threebed apartments cost 330,000, while there is a selection of four-bed houses, ranging from 405,000 for a semi detached, 425,000 for a three-storey townhouse ( 435,000 for an end terrace) and 550,000 for a 147sq m (1,584sq ft) detached version.

For further information contact Property Team Malone on 042. . .933 6994 Drogheda Drogheda's fortunes have turned around hugely over recent years, with major investment in its transport infrastructure mirroring the huge migration of people to the banks of the Boyne. One of the first major towns to really start to soak up large numbers of Dublin's diaspora, it started with the southside of the town, but now practically all of Drogheda and its hinterland are firmly within the capital's commuter belt.

One reason for this is the road and rail infrastructure, which passes by and through the town. Massive money was spent on the rail link between Dublin and Belfast, and Drogheda was a main recipient of the knock-on benefits.

There are about 40 services daily between Drogheda and Dublin (including commuter trains), with nine trains running between 6.20am and 8.30am.

Add to this the fact that Ireland's longest stretch of motorway runs past the town, and you have a road infrastructure to rival any in this or many other countries.

It is about a half-hour drive to the edge of the city, and about a half-hour train journey into Connolly . . . which is not bad, considering that most of Drogheda is in County Louth.

Thomas Byrne Auctioneers and Valuers has been selling properties in Drogheda since the first migration started to happen . . . when Wheaton Hall sold in the early 1990s, mainly to Dubliners. It was recently involved in the sale of a development called Grangerath, which was built by Shannon Homes to the highest standards possible . . . and one of the beauties of Grangerath is that you manage to join the M1 motorway just south of the toll.

"Grangerath was really one of the most outstanding developments in the country, " said Thomas Byrne.

"Shannon Homes really got it right here. We have tennis courts, a five-a-side football pitch, a magnificent shopping centre and a leisure centre."

The properties at Grangerath range from onebed apartments for 235,000, up to a 348sq m (3,750sq ft) five-bed home costing in excess of 1m. And while there are some apartments left for sale, there is only one of these million euro homes available, which will be ready by February of next year.

Already these properties have experienced significant capital appreciation, and this is expected to continue into the near future.

"Drogheda was an industrial town, " said Byrne. "But now it is a retail, commercial and financial centre. It's really a city, with a population of about 40,000."

For further information contact Thomas Byrne Auctioneers and Valuers on 042983 2927 Carlow Carlow is one of Ireland's smallest counties, which is why it is often forgotten when it comes to commuting. But Carlow has what many other counties do not have . . . a county town which is almost a city, and certainly has many of the hallmarks of a large scale urban development . . . indeed, except for Dundalk, it is the only commuter county which can claim to contain an Institute of Technology.

One of the reasons why Carlow is not immediately identified as a commuter county is, in fact, its greatest strength . . . despite being only 50 miles or so from Dublin, it can point to both Carlow Town and the nearby Kilkenny as significant bases for employment, thereby minimising the need for commuting. However, people often forget Carlow for the simple reason that you have to travel through at least one other county before you arrive . . . although, no sooner have you crossed the border into County Carlow than you are arriving at the outskirts of Carlow Town.

But, more than its proximity to Dublin, Carlow is also very well served by an everimproving roads network . . .

even if the M9 motorway, which branches off the M7 near Kilcullen, would appear to be, at first glance, an unimportantly short major road.

Still, the road onwards to Carlow Town is pretty good (barring the odd hold-up at Castledermot), while the journey to Dublin will be significantly enhanced by the upgrade of the N7 Naas Road (although what you do once you approach the Red Cow roundabout is your own business).

House prices in Carlow can still be described as generous, with a typical three bedroom family home costing anywhere upwards of 250,000.

But what you are getting for your money is a home in one of Ireland's quieter counties, albeit one with a thriving urban centre. The population of Carlow Town is about 20,000, and according to the census results, it is growing all the time . . . it is expected to reach 30,000 by 2011. So why are people moving to Carlow?

Well, the student population does tend to skew the figures, but nonetheless, Carlow offers the best of both worlds, with an urban centre in a beautiful rural area.

Tourism is proving to be very popular in the county, with Ramada Hotel and Suites at Killerig Golf Resort joining Mount Wolseley Hilton as one of Ireland's premier golf destinations. And the town is skirted by the River Barrow . . . Ireland's second longest waterway and a haven for river enthusiasts.

Portarlington When most people think of the commuter counties of Dublin, they tend to forget Laois . . . which is something of a surprise, considering that Laois offers the best value for money to be found in any of the counties within a 50 mile radius of the city.

"Draw a plumb line from the Spire on O'Connell Street and extend it for 45 miles, " said Matt Dunne of Matt Dunne and Associates IAVI, based in Portarlington. "You have Drogheda, which is more expensive. You have Navan which is more expensive. Even a town such as Edenderry will cost about 35,000 more for a three-bed house, because people feel that it falls within the catchment of Leixlip and the cyber belt."

Indeed, Matt Dunne is currently offering two developments in Portarlington, both of which offer spectacular value for money. The first is Castlegate on Station Road, which Dunne describes as arguably the best residential development in town. Certainly the 97 homes on 13 acres is relatively low density, but it is the prices which are so interesting . . . especially given the size and quality of the houses themselves.

Compare these prices with what you pay in Dublin. At Castlegate, a 124sq m (1,340sq ft) four-bed semi-detached home is priced at 295,000. A 154sq m (1,653sq ft) five-bed detached home is priced at just 375,000, while a fivebed detached house with garage, measuring 187sq m (2,010sq ft), comes in at 440,000. But the irony of these prices is that they would be considered expensive for Portarlington.

To put it in perspective, Matt Dunne is also selling a development called The Glen at Kilnacourt Woods, which comprises of three bed semis, measuring a decent 98sq m (1,050sq ft), for 245,000.

Both estates are convenient to the train station, which is important (Castlegate is more convenient) . . . 32 trains stop at Portarlington each day, with four trains departing before 8am. And the journey to Heuston Station takes about 45 minutes, with a further 10 minutes into the city centre by Luas.

So what of the town itself?

Portarlington is primed for development, having just achieved the critical mass necessary to make development worthwhile. The swimming pool has just undergone a 2.5m redevelopment.

There is no shortage of clubs (GAA, golf); while the recently opened five star Heritage Hotel at Killenard is about five minutes away. Emo Court and woods are close by, and, in terms of employment, Portlaoise is only 10 miles away, with Tullamore 15 miles outside the town. A shopping centre is also on the way for Portarlington.

For further information Portlaoise As with Portarlington, Portlaoise benefits from the affordability that is the hallmark of properties in Laois.

But, unlike Portarlington, Portlaoise is a major urban centre, with a population close to 40,000 and an economy that has been described as "recession-proof" thanks to the preponderance of state jobs (prison, hospital and Department of Agriculture jobs make up a large percentage of jobs in the town).

Central to much of the development that has taken place in Portlaoise over the past number of years has been Owenass Residential Developments and its sales company Owenass Direct (Owenass cuts out the middle man when it comes to selling the properties that it builds).

It has sold out the major 500house development at Fairgreen Village, and is halfway through completing a shopping centre at Fairgreen (called Gandon Court), which will include nine retail units, apartments, a supermarket, pubs, restaurants and a 24hour service station.

Owenass' legacy can also be seen in its development (in association with other parties including the County Council) of a new orbital road which will remove the necessity for people on the N80 to go through Portlaoise and will link up with the M7 Portlaoise bypass.

Another Owenass development for Portlaoise is at Esker Hills, where it has already sold out of the first three phases, and is releasing a further 30 houses (two to four-bed units) priced between 220,000 and 335,000. It will also be releasing a new development of larger, five bedroom homes in Portlaoise town in the near future, but, given their size, these will be placed in a higher price bracket.

All of this is taking place in a town which, thanks to its bypass, is now only 45 minutes from Newlands Cross.

In terms of amenities, it has all the retail, social and cultural aspects that one would expect from a town of this size, with new theatres, a new VEC and any number of pubs and restaurants. There is also a new Heritage Hotel, which has brought new standards of luxury into Portlaoise.

For further information contact Owenass Direct on 057-864 3567 Gorey The first major town that people meet once they cross the border into Wexford has always been popular with people from Dublin. The difference these days is that the Dubliners buying in Gorey are doing so to capitalise on the lower prices available this far from the capital, whereas in the past, they were buying to capitalise on the sandy beaches and almost perpetual sunshine (at least for a couple of months of the year).

So what can you get for your money in Gorey? Warren Estates, with offices in Gorey and Enniscorthy (which is just a little too far to be considered a commuter town) is coming to the end of its offering of a large development called Ramsgate Village. There are only about 40 new houses left to offer, with between eight and ten units currently available.

A 84sq m (905sq ft) threebed semi-detached house will cost 315,000, a slightly larger three-bed mid-terrace unit will cost 305,000, a two-bed mid-terrace house measuring about 70sq m (750sq ft) will cost a very affordable 250,000, while a 114sq m (1,226sq ft) four-bed detached house is priced at 380,000 . . .

and each of these units has seen significant capital appreciation since the scheme was first being sold.

At present, the flurry of development activity in Gorey has somewhat subsided, as the town waits for a new sewage scheme to take care of the existing housing and planned housing supply.

But there is a quite considerable amount of commercial development taking place, with retail and office developments in progress, while Esmonde Street is busy converting from a residential street into a commercial centre. Indeed, with a new medical centre and a new Dunnes Stores centre (complete with 18 retail units), the town is fast becoming well served in terms of its retail offering.

In terms of future infrastructure, the Gorey Bypass is due for completion at the end of next year. The bypass, which will not do a huge amount for the journey between the town and Dublin, will nevertheless open up the south of Gorey to a commuting population. This is in addition to the fact that Gorey's population swells anyway during the summer months . . .

because, as the Stranglers said, "there's always the sun".

For further information contact Warren Estates on 053-942 1211 Outside Gorey Just outside of Gorey, in a village called Craanford, is a new development called "Baile Thiobaid". This village development of only seven architecturally designed detached homes is ideal for those looking for something a little different. The houses are expected to launch with prices ranging from 470,000 upwards for units measuring between 177sq m (1,900sq ft) and 223sq m (2,400sq ft).

Situated in the idyllic village of Craanford (tidy towns winner 2005 and 2006) and located only five minutes west of Gorey Town along the Carnew road, Craanford is a thriving community village and epitomises country living at its best.

For further information contact AD Quinn Auctioneers in Gorey on 053-948 0000 COMMUTER PROPERTIES MEATH An Colmchille, Bettystown The details: An Colmchille forms part of a new town centre development which is boosting the amenities available to the locals. Available are one, two and three-bed apartments Price: From ?235,000 to ?300,000 Agent: Sullivan Property Consultants, 041-983 6453 KILDARE Newcastle Woods, Enfield The details: This new development on sale through Property Team Carey is offering a mix of townhouses, four-bed semis and four-bed detached homes.

Price: From ?340,000 for a townhouse Agent: Property Team Carey, 046 954 1064 LOUTH Bellingham Heights, Castlebellingham The details: There are a number of units available from two-bed ground floor apartments, to first floor three-bed apartments as well as semi-detached houses and townhouses.

Price: From ?275,000.

Agent: Property Team Malone, 042-933 6994 DROGHEDA Grangerath, Drogheda The details: Properties at Grangerath range from one-bed apartments to five-bed houses at E1m plus. There are some apartments left for sale but only one million-euro home available.

Price: From ?235,000.

Agent: Thomas Byrne Auctioneers & Valuers, 042- 983 2927 PORTARLINGTON Castlegate, Station Road The details: One of the best residential developments in the town according to the selling agent. This low-density development houses 97 homes on 13 acres.

Price: From ?295,000.

Agent: Matt Dunne & Associates IAVI: 057-862 3349 PORTLAOISE Esker Hills The details: The first phase of this development has already sold out. A further 30 houses are now on release . . . two to four-bed units.

Price: From ?220,000 Agent: Owenass Direct, 057-864 3567 GOREY Ramsgate Village The details: 40 new houses now available in this development, from two-bed mid terraces to four-bed detached homes.

Price: From ?250,000 Agent: Warren Estates, 053-942 1211