Call for strategy to help people struggling with debt

The Combat Poverty Agency is calling for a national strategy to deal with the increasing number of people who are unable to deal with their debts.

The agency says the number of people contacting the Money Advice and Budgeting Service last year was up 30%.

Figures from the Financial Regulator also show that the number of mortgages in arrears for three months or more has increased by one quarter since 2006.