James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide figures in relation to the numbers of households which are now in mortgage arrears for three months or more; the number of persons who are really unable to pay their mortgage; the number on interest only payments; the number who have not paid their mortgage in 12 months; the number of repossession cases before the courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10091/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Figures published by the Central Bank on 17 February 2012 show that at the end of December 2011, there were 768,917 private residential mortgages accounts held in Ireland. Of these, 70, 911 accounts, were in arrears for more than 90 days and of that figure 53,086 were in arrears for over 180 days.

The published figures also show that, during the quarter ended December 2011, legal proceedings were issued to enforce the debt/security on a mortgage in 95 cases. 187 court proceedings were concluded in the quarter, of which the courts granted orders for possession /sale in 109 cases and 133 properties were taken into possession by lenders during the quarter, of which 50 were repossessed on foot of Court Orders and the balance following voluntary surrender or abandonment.

The data also shows that there was a total stock of 74,379 accounts that were categorised as restructured at the end of December 2011. Arrangements whereby as least the interest only portion of the mortgage is being met account for just over half of all restructured type.

For more detailed information, the Deputy should consult the relevant press release on the Central Bank's website: www.centralbank.ie