The amount of dedicated retail floor space in Ireland has trebled in the last five years, according to an industry report.

And retail experts expect this space will grow by around 40% in the coming years.

Independent retailers group RGDATA commissioned the report, which found retail space in the past five years has grown from 400,000 square metres to 1.5m square metres - enough space to create 188 Croke Parks.

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Planners MacCabe Durney and Barnes Consulting undertook the study, and their projections have suggested shopping centre and retail warehouse space in Ireland could almost double over the next few years.

A major reason for the growth in space was the expansion of discount stores Aldi and Lidl, which have opened 135 stores since 2000.

Tesco has opened only 22 new stores since 1997.

(PR/JM)