The cost of buying alcohol in an off-licence could jump significantly later this year.

The finance minister Michael Noonan says he's considering an overhaul of the fees paid by off-licences for their right to sell alcohol.

Currently an off-licence pays separate annual fees of €500 to sell beer, wine and spirits - meaning a total of €1,500 per year.

By comparison, a pub licence can cost anywhere between €250 and €3,805 a year, depending on how much drink the pub sells.

The system has been criticised by publicans, who say it allows supermarkets to sell massive amounts of alcohol at lower costs than a pub could manage.

In response to written Dáil questions Minister Noonan says he'll consider an overhaul of off-licence rules as part of the next Budget, to make sure one sector has no advantage over the other.

The Budget's due to be unveiled in mid-October.