Tallaght, just outside the busy but vital M50 city ring-road, is the capital of the new administrative county of south Dublin. It is located about 45 minutes south-west of Dublin city centre, but public transport from here to the centre is good, especially now that the Luas tram system is operational. Housing here is a combination of high-rise apartment blocks and terrace houses. There are new development sites everywhere and the price of property in the area is going up.
The development of Tallaght village, the Tallaght hospital, the civic offices, the library and The Square, plus a multi-storey shopping complex and better social and cultural facilities have all helped improve the area. However Tallaght still has that soul-less feel so typical of new housing estates. It has a young population and is similar to Blanchardstown, which is further north, also on the outside of the M50. Residents are mainly young families and students.