A new survey by the Economic and Social Research Institute and IIB Bank reveals a significant increase in the number of Irish adults regularly in debt and a rise in the amount of money they borrow.
It found an acceleration in non-mortgage borrowings may indicate that consumers' incomes are not rising as quickly as people had expected.
This study found one in three people are regularly in debt, and personal loans other than mortgages account for much of this debt.
One in five surveyed said these loans were imposing a strain on their household finances.
People earning less than €25,000 per annum expressed particular concerns as did people in the 40-49 age group.
The study also found one in five mortgage holders have been encouraged to increase borrowings because of the rise in property values.
The survey echoes recent findings by the Central Bank that people are using borrowings and credit much more than they used to.
