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Mepa Reform Process: Issues & Concerns
eApps

The following text is based on comments submitted by one or more periti. If KTP has managed to make any progress with MEPA in resolving this issue, this will be documented in italics below.

Issue no 001
Difficulties are being encountered when trying to upload _.pdf documents using FIREFOX as the MEPA IT system does not recognise such files. When raising this directly with MEPA officials, and eventually MITA, who designed the web-link to e-APPS, the perit in question was advised that the system has so far been designed for use with Microsoft Internet Explorer only (which incidentally is very slow & more virus-prone). There are several more popular leading edge web browsers nowadays, such as Firefox and Google Chrome. Mac users have encountered similar problems if not worse through 'Safari'.

KTP has already raised this issue with MEPA who promised to look into the matter and rectify the situation. A response from MEPA is still awaited.

Issue no 002
Submitted on 06.02.2011
e_APPS does not allow one to enter more than one name as the applicant, i.e the system does not allow an application to be submitted as joint applicants.

The issue is being referred to MEPA for their views.

Issue no 003
Submitted on 06.02.2011
e-APPS does not accept a foreign post code in the address details - My clients are Maltese but presently reside abroad. Since the post code is a MUST entry, I was told to enter the development address and post code in the online application form – even if this will not match the signed form.

Such a situation should be allowed and the issue has been referred to MEPA.

Issue no 004
Submitted on 06.02.2011
e-APPS does not allow one to enter more than one street name for the site in the case of sites located on a corner.

The issue has been referred to MEPA for their views.

Issue no 005
Submitted on 06.02.2011
The e-APPS system is not robust enough. There are limits of 5MB on the uploading of documents. But, even if we are careful to remain within that limit, the system often crashes, requiring more and more time simply to get a document through. If projects are large, then we end up sending information partly via uploading and the bulk by CD.

KTP has already raised this issue with MEPA who promised to look into the matter and rectify the situation. This situation is a result of the restricted IT system of MEPA. Short term solutions have been suggested by the KTP. A response from MEPA is still awaited

Issue no 006
Submitted on 06.02.2011
Applications are very slow to upload with several system errors and at times it is impossible to download or view correspondence from Vetters due to some error.

The same comments as in Issue no 005 apply.

Issue no 007
Submitted on 06.02.2011
It has been noted that in a case where the DPAR has been endorsed and is available on the MEPA website (through case search) against payment for the general public, it is not available through the e-APPS system for download by the Perit.

The issue has been referred to MEPA and their reaction is still awaited.

Issue no 008
Submitted on 06.02.2011
Although when pressing the final button "submit" you may think that the application froze or looped and that it was not successful, the payment would have gone through. A particular Perit was charged twice on one application and charged on another that was not successful. To make matters worse you can only find out 2 days after trying to make the submission, as the banks withhold the payment (that is not visible on the internet banking!) to give an authorisation code to MEPA to take the money.

This is a serious issue and has to be resolved. It has already been taken up with MEPA and a solution to such mishaps has to be found. Moreover, KTP has also raised the matter regarding the methods of payment available to Periti and applicants in order to try and get a better system how such payments can be done.