Nine out of 10 businesses are either stable or growing, across the island of Ireland and it is no longer just exporters and multinationals feeling the benefits of economic recovery.

Smaller business and companies focused purely on the home market are showing signs of recovery, according to a new report from north/south focused Inter Trade Ireland.

According to the InterTrade Ireland Business Monitor for the third quarter of 2014 45pc of firms in Ireland reporting growth in the three months to the end of September .

It found that companies of all sizes, and across all sectors are now experiencing recovery.

In the same period 12pc of firms reporting an increase in staffing levels, up slightly from the previous period.

Profitability is also improving.

Having been the worst hit by the crisis the construction sector is now the most optimistic, with 35pc of construction firms indicating that they are less cautious about undertaking investment than they were a year ago.