Dublin City Council has outlawed the erection of posters and notices on its street furniture - except in special circumstances - because it can be "unsightly and offensive", according to a spokesperson. Edel Morgan reports.

"We view it as a particularly bad problem and we are trying to improve the general ambience of the city centre," says Owen Keegan, director of traffic, Dublin City Council.

Under the Litter Pollution Act (1997) it is not an offence to put up election posters provided they are removed within seven days of the election. Temporary advertising billboards by licenced agents are also allowed, as are diversion signs for road works and approved temporary information signs to alert motorists to road closures.

While notices of unapproved public meetings, rallies or protests will be taken down by the local authorities, those posting advertising notices may be prosecuted.

"We can't allow some and not others. In this technology age there are a whole lot of ways people can communicate and they don't have to put notices up on a pole," says Mr Keegan. On the spot fines are €125.

Following an election, a party or candidate must remove posters within a seven-day period. After that, an on-the-spot fine of €125 can be issued by a local authority in respect of each remaining poster. If they refuse, they can be prosecuted in the District Court to enforce payment. The maximum penalty in the District Court following conviction for non-payment of the fine is €1,900. The Litter Pollution Act (1997) introduced penalties to combat litter. The definition of "litter" under this legislation is wide and extends from casual pieces of paper or cigarette ends to anything that is likely to be deemed unsightly.

Each local authority is obliged to prepare a litter management plan for its own area. This plan sets out the local authority's objectives to prevent and control litter as well as measures to encourage public awareness of litter. The plan must also set out the measures and arrangements by which the authority intends to achieve its objectives. In preparing a litter management plan, the local authority is obliged to consult with local community and voluntary interests before a plan is adopted by the council members.

Leaving or throwing litter in a public place is an offence that can be subject to an on-the-spot fine of €32 or a maximum fine of €1,905 if you are convicted of a litter offence in the District Court. You can be issued with an on-the-spot fine by a litter warden appointed by the local authority or by a member of the gardaí. If you are convicted of a litter offence, you may also be required by the court to pay the local authority's costs and expenses in investigating the offence and any costs incurred in bringing the prosecution.

Dublin City Council last year issued 6,553 on-the-spot fines, 3,542 of which were paid. It initiated 307 prosecutions with 32 convictions.