I think you are looking in the right area, but those are very expensive apartments. There are plenty of 3 bed semi's in the area now (gallops, sandyford hall) that are around 500k, in great nick with good gardens etc. Stamp duty on top is a bit of a killer, but so is €25k for a parking space.
The Luas is being extended up around to cherrywood, which should help boost the prices up there further when its built. Superquinn currently being built in the Gallops, M50, very close to schools, hospitals, all amenities under the sun.
Mostly, the impression I got were that the vast majority of the people buying the apartments in the new schemes around sandyford area were looking as a foot onto the ladder to trade up to a house in the next 3-5 years. Well, they are not building any houses, so the 3 bedders are going to become more and more scarce. These houses were all only €400k one year ago €500k now, and are still rising fast.
You have the cash for the house, be sensible!