High prices and an increase in pesticide-treated vegetables have led to more Dubliners deciding to grow their own vegetables, but the land currently given over to allotments is not nearly enough to meet the demand.

We have 200 allotments and there are currently about 200 people on our waiting list, " said a spokeswoman for Fingal County Council, which in 1999 had no one on the waiting list. ?We have had to close our waiting list because of the demands and we're still getting calls from people looking for an allotment. Nor is it just retired people; young people are taking an interest these days as well."

The council last month undertook to identify more green space that would be suitable for both temporary and permanent garden plots, but it will be next year before any results are yielded.

South Dublin County Council recently closed its allotment plot in Lucan and opened up four sites in Tallaght, Clondalkin, Palmerstown and Friarstown. They have a waiting list of 96. Dun Laoghaire/ Rathdown County Council has a waiting list of about 40 people for its plot in Goatstown.

It's a wonderful hobby that gives fantastic results and as more people have heard about allotments, more have thought they would like to get their hands on one, " said Michael Fox of the South Dublin Allotments Association, which successfully lobbied South Dublin County Council to provide replacement allotments when the Lucan plot was closed to make way for housing.

Fox owns an allotment in Tymon Park, Tallaght and this year is growing his own potatoes, onions, sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, swedes, broadbeans and peas, amongst other things.

Allotments are rented out on a one-year basis and are available to all in the area, regardless of income or garden size. Prices vary from 30 for a plot in Fingal to 60100 for a plot in south Dublin and concessions are given to pensioners and the unemployed.

Margaret McCormack (49) from Ballinteer in Dublin was on a waiting list for five months before she acquired an allotment in Goatstown plot last month.

I'm delighted with it, " she said. There are people there nine years who are very friendly and willing to help and I've planted quite a few different types of vegetables. You see families coming in with young children to work on their plot, which is lovely. It's a great thing to have in the city."