Almost three times more homes being repossessed through courts

The number of homes being repossessed through the country's circuit courts has almost trebled.

New figures from the Irish Times show more than 60 repossession orders are being granted every week, while courts are sitting.

A total of 900 homes were ordered to be repossessed in the circuit courts in the first six months of this year - compared to 313 during the same time last year.

More than 600 of those were for primary residences, and 284 were buy-to-lets.

The highest number of repossession orders were granted in Cork - with 123 - followed by 116 in Dublin.