Oil-tank refill €300 costlier than five years ago

The price of home heating oil has rocketed, with the cost of a tank refill now €300 higher than five years ago.

Around 800,000 homes use either home heating oil, solid fuel - such as coal or briquettes - or a mixture of both.

But carbon tax, VAT and an increase in global oil prices means it now costs about €900 to fill a 1,000-litre tank, up from €580 in 2006.

The Solid Fuel Trade Group is warning that homeowners are rationing heat, based on cashflow rather than need and urged the Government to bear this in mind on Budget Day.