Over 5,000 owners took advantage of a scheme which allowed them regularise issues with their properties which would have fallen outside the scope of sanctioning.

Problems with a property can be sanctioned if they would have been allowed through the normal application process – but thousands of other properties were left in legal limbo. The government introduced a scheme through a legal notice in August which offered an amnesty – but at considerably higher fees.

Responding to a Parliamentary Question possed by MP Toni Bezzina, Infrastructure Miister Ian Borg revealed that over €12 milllion had been paid between then and January 2018.

Seventy per cent of the money – up to a maximum of €8 million - will be used in a home restoration scheme, 20 per cent to local council projects, and the balance to the Planning Authority.

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