Government moves to cut down on the use of plastic carrier bags nationwide will come into force early next year.
Minister for the Environment Mr Noel Dempsey today published draft regulations that will see a 12p levy imposed on each bag from February 4th.
As the new European currency will have taken over then, shoppers will have to hand over euro 15 cents for every bag used.
Retailers will be obliged by law to pass on the charge to customers, with the tax authorities responsible for collecting the cash. The money raised will go to an environment fund to support a number of plans.
The Government signalled its intent to combat the plastic bag environmental menace three years ago.
Today Mr Dempsey said: "The bags are a visible and persistent component of litter pollution in towns, throughout the countryside and along our coastline".
He said Ireland had tended to make profligate use of plastic bags regardless of the consequences, with an estimated 1.2 billion provided free-of-charge annually. This equates to about 325 bags per person each year.
The Minister said: "Our use of plastic shopping bags is excessive and largely unnecessary. I hope consumers will respond to this measure by significantly reducing our consumption of plastic shopping bags dispensed at retail outlets".