The pace of annual credit growth slowed in March for the first time since last August, the latest Central Bank figures reveal.
The year-on-year increase in private sector credit fell back to 25.4% from 26.9% in February.
The Central Bank said that non-mortgage lending once again accounted for most of the monthly increase, with non-financial corporations, such as garages which offer car loans, driving demand.
Following two months of relatively weak demand, residential mortgages rebounded in March when €1.5bn was lent to borrowers buying homes.
However, the rate of growth continued to ease and fell marginally to 25.8% from 26.9% in February.
The Central Bank figures also reveal that SSIA balances with credit institutions rose by €178m to €5.3bn by the end of March.
