A major initiative to tackle the litter problem and save the State millions of pounds in clean-up costs was announced yesterday by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government.

Mr Dempsey said National Spring Clean, which is to be organised next year by An Taisce, would be Ireland's biggest campaign against litter.

He said the initiative would promote tourism and bring long-term economic benefits, and offered "the best opportunity in years to finally get to grips with our scandalous litter problem".

The primary aim of National Spring Clean, which will run throughout next April, will be to encourage people and groups from all walks of life to get involved in cleaning up their local environment.

The campaign is modelled on a successful initiative which has been running in Britain for seven years and has seen over 3.5 million people collect 18,500 tonnes of litter.

An Taisce said the costs associated with litter in Ireland were increasing continuously and could seriously undermine the State's strong economic performance in recent years.

"The problem in Ireland has grown to the extent that it is now needlessly costing local authorities millions of pounds each year. In Dublin alone £10 million will be spent on street cleaning in 1998. This cost has increased significantly each year," it said.

Next year's campaign, which is sponsored by the Department of the Environment and Local Government, Coca-Cola and Wrigleys, will involve a co-ordinated programme of clean-up events, spearheaded by local authorities throughout the State.

Groups and individuals who register with An Taisce will receive information packs on how to get involved, including health and safety instructions and tips on how to get media coverage.

A full programme of events and activities is to be announced in the new year.

Mr Dempsey stressed the initiative would be more than a once-off campaign.

It is hoped the event will be an annual one, and the Minister said it would assist local authority enforcement of the litter laws.

An Taisce said local authorities were already taking a more proactive role in eradicating litter. A total of 191 litter wardens were employed in the State in the first six months of this year, more than double the number employed in 1996.

There were also 575 prosecutions taken in the first six months of 1998, an increase of 175 per cent on the number brought in the second half of last year.