Dramatic changes in the population of the State and the growing waste problem have led to the creation of new categories in the annual Tidy Towns competition.
Calling for entries to the event today, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment Batt O'Keeffe said it had been a major force for community development in its 40 years of existence.
He said that since its inception in 1958, the competition has changed and developed to reflect the social, economic and cultural changes that now make up modern Ireland.
This year sees the introduction of a "large urban centre" category (population exceeding 15,000) to recognise the dramatic population increase and urbanisation of towns, particularly around the cities of Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Galway and Waterford.
There is also a new category for waste minimisation to complement ongoing efforts to tackle the growing waste issue, the Minister said.
"One of the reasons Tidy Towns has enjoyed tremendous success over the years, has been its ability to move with the times and reflect the needs and priorities of successive generations," Mr O'Keeffe said.
Further information is available at www.tidytowns.ieor from the free-phone number 1800 787878. The closing date is May 17th, 2006.