New powers for local authorities to compel shopkeepers and property owners to clean and maintain the area in front of their properties, are to be included in the Environment Bill.
The Bill which is to come before the Dáil within the next few weeks has been amended by the Minister for the Environment Mr Cullen, in a bid to improve the appearance of urban streets in towns and villages.
Speaking to The Irish Times yesterday, Minister Cullen said the amendment would allow local authorities to enforce maintenance and regular cleaning of premises and the area immediately outside the premises.
Mr Cullen said a big change in attitudes to cleanliness and litter was required and the Bill was aimed at encouraging individual storekeepers to take responsibility for the area around their shops.
He described the fines as "a little bit of stick from the carrot and stick approach".
The Minister also revealed that while the Bill contains a number of provisions to strengthen the monitoring and enforcement role of the Environmental Protection Agency, he is not considering conferring on it any responsibility for the granting of planning permissions.
Planning authorities are currently required to follow national policies on employment and strategic guidelines, as well as other criteria.
Under the changes, integrated pollution control licences would become integrated pollution prevention and control licences and the authority's role in monitoring and enforcing conditions would be strengthened with increased fines for offenders.
