Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said the Government will decide "in the next few weeks" whether or not to extend electricity credits into next winter.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week, the Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport said Covid-19 supports were wound down over time, and this issue would require something similar.
He said lowering the credits is "less likely" and that if they were to be continued, they would likely be continued as they are.
"You're best to really hold your fire on those to periods when bills are the highest going into the winter period," he said.
"We waited until October and we really went at it big then with social welfare increases as well as credits. I think we should stick with the approach that worked."
Asked if he would consider going into Government with Sinn Féin, Mr Ryan said the scale and urgency of change needed regarding the environment means the Green Party cannot sit back and wait for the ideal political partners.
He said he believes every political viewpoint must be part of this change and they will work with all parties to make it happen.
"But Sinn Féin also have to change. They have to start taking the environmental agenda seriously and show the ambition, scale, response, funding and resources that need to go to that in their policy approach.
"We would enter any such negotiations as absolutely honest, respecting all parties and their mandate, but also holding a line that really we can't delay now.
"You can't put it down as a tick-box greenwashing option. It has to be real."
