Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said there has to be delivery from Government on housing and health in the months ahead.
Speaking at his party's think-in in Longford, Mr Martin urged the Taoiseach to commit to getting more people housed and getting children out of emergency accommodation in hotels.
Mr Martin said he wants to see fewer announcements and talk of reviews from Government and more action, particularly on housing.
He strongly criticised the previous Minister for Housing Simon Coveney for not choosing to stay in that department to tackle the problem.
He said the minister had cynically got out of town.
In scathing criticism too of the Taoiseach's emphasis on communications, Mr Martin described the new unit dealing with this in Government Buildings as a political spin machine.
And there was a warning to Fine Gael ahead of the Budget in three weeks' time that any tax cuts must focus on the Universal Social Charge first, because that is what it says in the confidence-and-supply agreement underpinning the Government.
On the question of the next Government, Mr Martin said again that Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin are incompatible even if there was a new Sinn Féin leader, because, as he put it, "whatever Gerry Adams says, Mary Lou McDonald says".
Fianna Fáil TDs and senators are meeting ahead of the Dáil returning after the summer recess on Wednesday.
The party has committed to facilitating the passage of three budgets under the confidence-and-supply agreement underpinning the Government, with the second of those budgets on 10 October.
There appears to be a different emphasis between the party and Fine Gael over what form any tax cuts would take.
Fianna Fáil is adamant that its agreement with Fine Gael promises a focus on reducing the USC for low and middle income earners.
Fine Gael has discussed increasing the entry point for the higher rate of tax.
It is a key difference between the parties that will require resolution soon and it is likely to be discussed at the meeting in Longford, where the main focus will be on the need for better public services.
The party is also likely to highlight the need to reduce hospital waiting lists, something it believes is achievable if the Government made greater use of the National Treatment Purchase Fund.
