New information received by the NSW opposition shows that nearly one-fifth of those who received the Baird government's $5,000 'new home grant' received more than one grant.

The scheme was introduced by the Baird government with the aim of boosting housing construction. 

A total of 3,378 recipients received five or more grants, according to reports in The Sydney Morning Herald. 

The NSW opposition received a breakdown of the 'new home grant' data under a freedom of information request, revealing the extent of the 'double-dipping'.

During the five years of the scheme, there were 131,203 recipients of the scheme, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. 

Of all the recipients, 23,341 – or 18 per cent – received more than one grant, the review shows.

The Berejiklian government ended the scheme on June 30 after criticism from former Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens, who conducted a review of NSW housing affordability.

"It is important to note that at present about half of the grants made by the government do not go to first homebuyers: they go to those buying their second or subsequent home, if it is a new dwelling," Stevens wrote.

Shadow treasury spokesman, Ryan Park, said the numbers were "staggering", and said, "it was not a good look to give away tens of millions of dollars to help people get their fourth or even fifth home, while hundreds of thousands of people were struggling to get a toehold on the property ladder."

Read more about housing affordability in NSW:

First-home buyers are back in the market

Berejiklian appoints former RBA-head Glenn Stevens to tackle housing affordability

Baird's property legacy