The Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform will resume its hearings on mortgage arrears today, Tuesday, when it meets with Ulster Bank Chief Executive Jim Brown.

Committee Chairman, Ciarán Lynch TD, said: "We will continue our series of hearings on mortgage arrears and the resolution process to deal with the issue of arrears by providing long-term solutions.

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"According to the latest figures released by the Central Bank, the numbers of homeowners in mortgage arrears of over three months has fallen for the first time in almost five years. However, those figures mask a very worrying trend in long term arrears whereby those behind in repayments by more than two years has risen.

"We will have an opportunity to consider how Ulster Bank is meeting its target of providing sustainable mortgage solutions for distressed borrowers and ensuring that there is a consistency of approach in dealing with distressed borrowers.

"Committee members will also want to discuss how the bank is dealing with the new insolvency legislation and the Insolvency Service of Ireland."

(CD/JP)