PERMANENT TSB, the country's largest mortgage lender, has moved about 10 staff who liaised with mortgage brokers into new administrative roles, including positions where they will manage loan arrears.

The bank redeployed the staff due to the decline in new mortgage lending through brokers, according to a spokesman.

He described the move as a prudent management of resources, saying the staff were being moved to "various administrative tasks, including arrears".

Permanent TSB has reduced new lending through brokers over the last year by cutting the commission it pays to brokers and increasing the period of time during which it can claw back commissions paid to brokers from three to five years, if a customer pays off a mortgage in that time.

Some lenders have focused on selling mortgages directly to customers, rather than through brokers, as they reduce costs.