Dublin, Sept. 23 (Reuters): Bubble-gum blowers beware: Ireland is mulling a tax on chewing gum to fund the cost of cleaning the sticky stuff from its pavements.

A government-commissioned study has proposed a 10 per cent levy on gum ? equal to about five euro cents a pack ? in its latest drive to clean up the country. The levy could raise around 4 to 5 million euros ($4.9-6.2 million) a year.

Alternatively, the study suggested, the industry could agree to fund ways of tackling litter. Clearing up the country?s rubbish cost an estimated 70 million euros in 2003 but litter fines only brought in 2.7 million euros.

A report found that chewing gum accounted for nearly 30 per cent of all litter. But not only gum, fast-food packaging and ATM receipts are also on the government?s target list.