Sinn Fein is calling on the government to stand up to the banks in relation to the mortgage crisis.

The issue is expected to take centre stage at the party's Ard Comhairle in Dublin today where a range of other issues such as budget 2014, and a border poll on Irish unity will be discussed.

The President of Sinn Fein is calling for an Independent Mortgage Resolution Board to be set up following the release of figures from the Central Bank yesterday which have shown a rise in the number of homeowners behind on repayments.

Figures released by the Central Bank yesterday show the number of loans in difficulty is continuing to rise with over 142 thousand mortgages in some form of arrears.

More than 95 thousand 500 accounts are behind on repayments by over 90 days representing 12.3 per cent of the total number.

Just under 80 thousand mortgages have been restructured of which 76 per cent are meeting the terms of their new deals.

Gerry Adams has accused the government of failing struggling homeowmners and said they are instead siding with the banks on the issue.