A Green Party member of Cork City Council has called on the Environmental Protection Agency and the Health Services Executive to intervene amid claims that there is a mounting refuse crisis in Cork city.
Cllr Chris O'Leary said there was a growing problem because of the council's refusal to collect bins or bags of rubbish put out without tags following the introduction of a waste service charge system in January.
Under the system, householders pay a standing charge of €255 per year and then €3 or €5 per tag for different size bins
Mr O'Leary and three other councillors met Cork City Manager Mr Joe Gavin this week to ask him to get the council to collect untagged bins - but Mr Gavin said the council would tackle the problem by prosecuting those who left out untagged waste.
Cllr O'Leary said the EPA should step in and take action against Cork City Council due to its continued refusal to maintain a clean and safe environment and on the HSE to take action on this health and safety issue by instructing the council to clear up the uncollected waste.
However a Cork City Council spokesman rejected Cllr O'Leary's claim that there was a health threat caused by uncollected waste in the city and said that the council was keeping the situation under constant review.
"We believe an element of this dumping is orchestrated and we are asking the public to identify these people who are illegally dumping rubbish on the streets."