Environment Minister Dick Roche has defended his plan to drop a proposed chewing-gum tax in favour of allowing manufacturers to fund an anti-litter education campaign.

The Labour Party has criticised the Government's decision to abandon its planned chewing-gum tax in favour of an anti-litter campaign funded by manufacturers like Wrigleys.

Chewing-gum manufacturers have reportedly agreed to pay €2m annually to fund efforts to reduce the amount of litter caused by their products on Irish streets.