What about joining a flying club? I'm currently doing my ppl in Coonagh and it's working out reasonably cheap. Flying is worked out on €130/tach hour for student. It usually works out less than €130/hr though, for instance on average 45mins of circuits usually costs around €60. However circuits tend to use less RPM but evening cross country doesn't seem be anywhere near the €130/hr. There's also the advantage of not having landing fees.
The disadvantages however are that there's usually a membership fee, €350 per annum in Coonagh, and you may not get flying as frequently since it's usually weekends and evening flying. But if you can organize it with an instructor you can go flying any time.
The advantages being that there's a good club atmosphere and there's usually plenty of opportunities to go flying with ppls who are looking for a bit of company.
It might be something worth thinking about anyway.