The Central Bank has sent teams of inspectors into the banks to analyse how they are handling borrowers with long-term arrears, RTÉ News had learned.
The development comes as there is increasing concern that despite the improving economic conditions the number of customers in long-term arrears increased in the last three months of 2013.
The inspection is part of an audit of the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears by the Central Bank.
It is understood the inspectors examined how banks were dealing with people who were in arrears of more than two years.
There are now 37,000 mortgage accounts that are in arrears for 720 days or more.
It is understood the inspectors examined the legal processes and collection methods being used by the banks.
A spokesperson for the Central Bank confirmed the outcome of the inspection and said recommendations would be published later this year.
