The number of new mortgages approved by Irish banks in March was up by 74, or 6.8%, compared to February but was down 10.9% on the figures for March of last year.
The Irish Bankers Federation Mortgage Approvals Report, which tracks the number of new mortgages approved by mainstream lenders, shows that 1,167 mortgages were approved during March to the value of €196m.
That was 16% higher than the value of loans issued in February.
House purchases accounted of the majority of loans issued in March with re-mortgages and top-ups accounting for just 104 loans.
The total amount of loans extended to house purchasers in the month came to €186m.
