The Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, is to increase the levy on plastic shopping bags to 22 cent per bag in the next couple of months.
Mr Roche told RTÉ News this afternoon that he will increase the levy to the maximum amount possible without having to introduce new legislation.
Earlier, the Irish Business Against Litter lobby group called for the levy to be doubled to 30c.
Following the latest survey by IBAL, the Minister rejected a call for a litter commissioner to be appointed.
The survey found 30 areas of Dublin that are categorised as either black spots or seriously littered.
IBAL says the 15c plastic bag levy that was introduced four years ago has lost its shock value.
