The Irish Banking Federation says first-time buyers have increased their share of the mortgage market to a record high of 23.3%.
The organisation says the number of first-time buyers getting a mortgage has increased for a second successive quarter, despite the slowdown in the housing market.
Mover-purchasers have also increased their market share to 25.8%, making them the largest segment of the market.
Ninety thousand new mortgages have been issued so far this year and the total market is valued at almost €150bn.