Warning to homeowners after heating oil is stolen from tank in Mayo estate
There are reports of thefts from oil tanks amid rising fuel costs. Picture: iStock
A warning has been issued after home heating oil was stolen from a tank in a Mayo housing estate.
Cllr Brendan Mulroy highlighted the issue following the theft from a Westport householder. The crime has been reported to An Garda Síochána. Cllr Mulroy advised members of the public to ensure their oil tanks are secured. He also urged anyone who notices any suspicious activity to report it immediately to Gardaí.
There are fears that the spike in home heating oil could lead to a rise in this type of offending. Gardaí say above-ground oil tanks and mobile fuel bowsers are most at risk of being targeted.
Householders have been advised to consider installing alarms in their oil tanks, as well as anti-siphoning devices.
Other parts of the country have seen an increase in drive-offs from filling stations.
Meanwhile, Mayo Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh said her party brought a motion before the Dáil this week, demanding urgent action from the government to tackle soaring energy costs.
“Workers and families have been struggling through an unrelenting cost-of-living crisis, and the rapid rise in the cost of petrol, diesel, and home heating oil is making an already difficult situation far worse. Households in Mayo and across the state are under enormous pressure, and yet Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael continue to sit on their hands while costs spiral,” she said.
The Erris TD said Ireland has been hit with the largest hike in the price of home heating oil in Europe "at almost eight times the EU average".
“At the same time, the Irish government currently charges almost double the EU minimum fuel tax rates, meaning at the pumps, between 60% and 65% of the price you pay goes straight to the exchequer.
“Sinn Féin’s motion calls on the government to scrap planned tax increases on home heating oil, due to take effect on May 1, and to reduce the cost of petrol, diesel, and home heating oil temporarily by implementing Sinn Féin’s Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill 2026,” she added.
