We don’t have an unlimited pot of money and energy supports should go to those who need them most this summer, according to the Green Party Chairperson.

Senator Pauline O’Reilly was speaking amid reports her party will look to block a fourth €200 energy credit in the coming months.

The party is expected to argue that any further universal supports should wait until next winter – with the most vulnerable households supported through the summer.

Coalition leaders and senior ministers are due to discuss the issue at a meeting today, with an announcement expected sometime next week.

"Most vulnerable"

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Senator O’Reilly said the Green Party supports “targeted measures” during the warmer part of the year.

“I think it was absolutely correct for universal measures to be brought in during the middle of winter but I think, coming into summer, we need to be careful with our money,” she said.

“It is the State’s money, it is not unlimited and the most vulnerable people do need to be supported during the huge rise that we have seen in electricity costs – which is down to the fact that we need to produce more renewable electricity.

“That is really the fundamental issue. It is not an unlimited amount of money.”

Electricity Credits

Households are due to get the last of three €200 credits on electricity bills in the next two months.

The credits were announced in last September’s budget but there have been calls to introduce further measures, with the fall in wholesale energy prices not expected to be passed on to customers in the medium term.

Meanwhile, the Government has ruled out announcing a mini-budget to help families with the cost of living.