Company start-ups in the first half of 2014 are up 14% on the figure for the same period in 2013 and are the highest we've seen since 2007.

8,684 new companies have already been formed this year, compared to 7,642 in the first half of 2013. A quarter of these companies are operating in the professional services sector however, start-ups in the construction and real estate sectors have increased noticeably this year.

654 companies entered the construction sector this year (up from 470 in 2013) and 423 entered the real estate market (up from 321 in 2013).

There has also been a 10.5% decrease in company insolvencies in the first half of this year - 723 have been recorded this year compared to 808 in the first six months of 2013.

The majority of insolvent companies were based in Dublin (43%) with a further 8% and 5% based in Cork and Galway.