Motorists have been advised by the Director of Consumer Affairs to shop around for fuel after a survey showed some filling stations charging almost 16 per cent more than others nearby.
The survey by Ms Carmel Foley's office found motorists were paying up to 8p more per litre of petrol in different outlets in the same town or city, and up to 11p more for diesel.
The highest petrol price charged in 14 locations surveyed by inspectors was 80.9p per litre in Mullingar, Co Westmeath. The lowest price in the town was 72.9p.
In Cork city there was a 10 per cent gap between the highest petrol price of 79.9p and the lowest of 71.9p. The lowest price in Dublin was 71.3p, while the highest was 78.6p.
The lowest diesel price in the 14 locations was 59.8p per litre in Cork. The highest diesel price in the city was 70.9p, a gap of 11p or 15.7 per cent. In Dublin diesel prices ranged from 64.8p to 70.9p.
Ms Foley said the survey showed motorists who shopped around could make significant savings.
"In the case of petrol, the greatest difference was 10 per cent, while in the case of diesel it was almost 16 per cent. Motorists will have a good idea of how much they spend on fuel and what a few pence per litre saving would achieve on an average 50-litre tank," she said.
Ms Foley urged motorists to note the prices charged by filling stations and frequent the less expensive ones. "I believe this would be an incentive to other stations to become more competitive. Consumers often have more power than they realise. The key to cheaper motoring is to think in price per litre and support the best-value outlets," she added.
The survey, carried out over four consecutive days this month and last, was part of the Government's programme to reduce price inflation through creating greater awareness of retail prices. It compared prices charged by outlets close to each other.