In separate statements the ministries of finance and social security said that some 93,000 tax payers with amounts due to the two entities had signed up to pay off their debts between 4 November and 23 December.

The programme which allows debts to be paid in instalments and with a pardon of interest and fines, will see the government receive a total of €1,434,000,000 over the11 year lifespan of the scheme.