HOUSE prices declined by an average of 4pc in the first three months of the year.

Research from property website Daft.ie revealed that the average asking price for houses is listed at €210,000, which is 43pc below its peak level.

Separately, Myhome.ie puts the figure at €260,000 and says further reductions are likely during 2011.

The two websites’ figures do vary according to the type of properties they advertise. But both point to ongoing decline in house values across almost the whole country.

Daft said asking prices had fallen by 3.1pc so far this year, while Myhome said they fell by 4.1pc nationally and 3.8pc in Dublin.