The choice-based letting scheme for social housing could be expanded to all councils.
The scheme is an online service that allows housing applicants to express interest in advertised council properties on a weekly basis.
It is part of the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing.
The scheme has also been implemented by South Dublin County Council, Dublin City Council, Cork City Council, Donegal County Council, Sligo County Council and Louth Co Council.
One of the contributors to the delay in letting properties is refusals by those seeking housing.
Local authorities offer a house to a family who have a couple of weeks to accept or refuse.
The process has to begin all over again if the offer is refused.
In two of the areas where the scheme has been introduced, the results have been dramatic.
In South Dublin County Council, which includes areas such as Tallaght and Clondalkin, the scheme was introduced in 2011 and prior to this the refusal rate was in the order of 50%; it is now down to 5%.
In Cork City Council, since it was introduced in September 2015, refusals were in the region of 40% - this figure is now down to 10%.
Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe rejected claims that those people most desperate would get the worst available houses.
He said what was needed was accurate, up-to-date housing lists and to make houses available to people who really need them in a timely way.
The CEO of the Housing Agency has said the choice-based letting scheme does cut down on the numbers of refusals for social housing but more new houses are needed.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, John O'Connor told said: "We have been focusing on getting properties from NAMA; acquiring properties; building an amount of new properties, but yes, we do need to continue to supply additional housing."
Sinn Féin's spokesperson on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government Eoin Ó Broin welcomed plans to expand the scheme for social housing.
He said: "For the scheme to be successfully implemented nationwide the minister must ensure that there are facilities in council offices for those who aren't computer literate or for those who have literacy issues.
"The scheme works because it gives local authority tenants ownership over their housing needs. It is beneficial for the council as it does dramatically reduce the number of refusals."
However, he said the expansion of the scheme alone will not have any dramatic impact on housing waiting lists.
Mr Ó Broin said the Government "needs to increase the supply of housing in order to make a dent in the 140,000 plus housing list".
A spokesperson for the Department of Housing and Local Government has said it is not moving away from eligibility and means testing as criteria for social housing.
"These are still critical factors in a person's place on the waiting list.
"Obviously, the person who is highest on the waiting list if they apply for an advertised home will be successful subject to usual checks," he said.
