The Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Mary Harney, has said that Accident and Emergency services should see a measurable improvement by the autumn.
Ms Harney said she would not try to justify the recent record levels of patients on trolleys in A & E.
However, she said it would take time for her ten-point plan for A & E units to come into effect.
Later this week, the Health Service Executive is to seek tenders from the private sector for 500 nursing home beds.
The HSE has also been given funding to allow 400 elderly people to be discharged from hospital to take up home care.
Ms Harney also said she was disappointed with the revelations that public nursing homes had been holding onto the pension books of clients.
