The Government levy on plastic bags is to be increased to 19c later this year. Further rises are also being considered by Minister for the Environment Dick Roche.
Mr Roche said yesterday that he had asked his department to bring the current 15c levy up to the maximum allowed under regulations which is 19c.
He added that he would consider introducing primary legislation to allow a future minister to increase the levy further.
Mr Roche said the new levy of 19c "would not break anybody", and he had asked his department to move straight away on increasing the levy to the maximum allowed.
He also wanted "to set down a marker" on the issue of primary legislation to raise this maximum threshold so as to permit further increases.
However, he said he could not bring in primary legislation which would only deal with the plastic bag levy, and that it would have to be dealt with in the context of other appropriate issues.
Mr Roche said the levy had been incredibly successful.
"I have been looking at figures and the figures have been going up for plastic bag usage. Partly that is because we have a booming economy and there are more people
"But just to make sure that people do not become complacent and to give the system a jog, I am bringing the levy up to the maximum."
The 15c levy on plastic bags was introduced by the Government in 2002 to deter unnecessary use. Mr Roche said that prior to its introduction around 1.2 billion plastic bags were being used in the State annually.
This figure has been reduced by around 90 per cent since the introduction of the measure.
Revenue from the levy has been rising steadily over recent years, and it has been estimated that it could reach €20 million in the near future.
Mr Roche said the introduction of the plastic bag levy had been one of the country's greatest successes in environmental issues.
