Central Bank of Ireland: interest rates, credit and banking statistics
The Central Bank of Ireland is Ireland's national central bank within the Eurosystem and its financial regulator. Policy interest rates for Ireland are set by the European Central Bank, which publishes them; the Central Bank of Ireland publishes Irish statistics on retail interest rates, credit, mortgage arrears, household wealth and payments, along with its Quarterly Bulletin and mortgage measures. Fact-checkers use the two together for claims about mortgage costs, lending and interest rates.
What it publishes
- Retail interest rates on new and outstanding loans and deposits, including mortgage rates, monthly.
- Credit and banking statistics, including lending to households and businesses.
- Mortgage arrears statistics for principal dwelling and buy-to-let mortgages.
- Household wealth from the quarterly financial accounts.
- Quarterly Bulletins with the Bank's economic assessment and forecasts.
- Mortgage measures (loan-to-income and loan-to-value limits) and the Financial Stability Review.
- Public registers of regulated firms.
Key datasets
- Retail interest rates
Excel tables of interest rates and new business volumes on loans and deposits, including loans for house purchase.
- Mortgage arrears
Number and value of mortgage accounts in arrears by duration.
- Household wealth
Household net worth, housing assets and debt.
- Quarterly Bulletins
Economic commentary and macroeconomic projections for Ireland.
- Key ECB interest rates
History of the deposit facility, main refinancing and marginal lending rates with effective dates.
APIs and downloads
- Central Bank statistics hubIndex of all statistical releases with Excel downloads.
- ECB Data PortalEuro area and national series, including Irish bank interest rates and euro exchange rates, with an API.
- Central Bank registersSearch for firms authorised or registered by the Central Bank.
When it publishes
The Central Bank publishes an advance calendar of its statistical releases. Retail interest rate statistics appear monthly, about five weeks after the reference month; mortgage arrears are quarterly. ECB Governing Council monetary policy meetings are held about every six weeks.
How to use it to check a claim
- For 'interest rates' in Ireland, first decide whether the claim is about ECB policy rates or rates banks charge customers.
- Quote the ECB deposit facility rate with its effective date from the ECB's key rates page.
- For mortgage rates, check whether the figure is for new business or outstanding loans, and fixed or variable.
- For arrears, check whether the claim covers principal dwelling houses, buy-to-let, or both, and how long accounts have been in arrears.
Common mistakes
- The Central Bank of Ireland does not set interest rates on its own; it is part of the ECB Governing Council.
- Average new mortgage rates mix different fixed periods, so a change can reflect a shift in product mix.
- Retail rate tables cover euro-denominated agreements with euro-area households and firms, as defined in the background notes.
Who sets interest rates in Ireland?
The ECB Governing Council sets policy rates for the whole euro area; the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland is a member. The ECB's key rates page lists every change with its effective date.
Where can I find average Irish mortgage rates?
The Central Bank's monthly retail interest rate statistics include tables on loans for house purchase, with rates on new business and outstanding mortgages.
What are the mortgage measures?
They are Central Bank rules limiting how much people can borrow relative to income and property value, with set allowances above the limits. The Bank reviews them each year and publishes the details on its mortgage measures page.
Questions answered using this source
- What is the interest rate in Ireland?
- What is the inflation rate in Ireland?
- What is the average house price in Ireland?
Links checked 14 October 2026. This page describes what the source publishes and gives no verdict on any claim.