The number of mortgages in arrears has fallen 6% in three months

There has been a further fall in the number of mortgages in arrears.

Figures released by the Central Bank show that more than 92,000 mortgages for principal dwelling houses were in arrears in the three months to the end of September.

This is in excess of 12% of the total number of mortgages, but a drop of 6% on the second quarter.

More than 120,000 mortgages were listed as being restructured in the third quarter, almost 2% more than the April to June period.

The bank's figures also show the number of accounts in arrears of over 90 days at end of September was 65,584, or 8.7% of total, reflecting a quarter-on-quarter decline of 6.7%.