Further energy supports for households and businesses are due to be announced as part of next year's budget.
The Taoiseach says a cost of living package will be part of October's announcement.
Consumers' bills remain high despite wholesale energy prices falling.
Energy Economist at the ESRI, Dr. Muireann Lynch, says reducing VAT and excise tends to be of greater benefit to higher income households.
"If you look at something like trying to reduce people's bills directly, like reducing VAT, reducing carbon tax, reducing excise duty - that actually goes mostly to higher income households, because higher income households use more energy compared to lower income households."
