DoE hopes proposals will be in place next year

The Department of the Environment has proposed to increase the current penalty from �25 up to �50 as part of a 12-week consultation exercise.

It hopes to put the fixed penalty in place next year.

DoE spokesman Chris Savage said littering and dog fouling remained a concern to the public and the government.

"This will act as a greater deterrent and help to improve the quality of our local environment," he said.

"The increase also brings our fixed penalty into line with those in Britain and we will also be looking at ways in which legislation on litter can be improved and made more effective."