The Department of Equality intends to make a decision on a Gender Equality Referendum early in the autumn term.
In a statement the department say that an inder-departmental working group is close to concluding its work and policy proposals.
Heads of bills will be brought forward for Government decision early in the autumn term.
Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien, whose Department has responsibility for referendums, has said the matter is currently being discussed by Government leaders.
He said that holding the referendum is a priority for the Government and he has not been told that it would not go ahead in November.
The update comes amid calls from coalition of civic society groups for the Government to clarify when the wording on the gender equality referendum will be published.
The referendum is due to take place at the end of November and a wording was due to be agreed by mid-May.
In an open letter to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, The National Women's Council, One Family, SIPTU, Family Carers Ireland and Treoir said time is needed for a national conversation on the Family, Care, and Gender Equality referendum.
The Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality and a subsequent Oireachtas committee recommended a three-pronged referendum.
Remove gendered language referring to women in the home; ensure the role of care is supported; and create a more inclusive definition of family - moving away from the constitutional definition of the family based on marriage.
Three months after the wording was due to be finalised the five groups said they are worried the delay could signal a government "backtrack" and are calling for "urgent clarification".
Director of the National Women's Council, Orla O'Connor, said: "Our Constitution, our foundational document, contains restrictive language on women’s role in society. It is outdated and carries a legacy of the mistreatment of women up to today.
"It’s important this is amended so that it reflects the value of care and everyone’s role in care right across our society.
"NWC is looking forward to a national conversation on these issues but unless wording is published soon, we're concerned about the proposed timeline."
SIPTU said there are up to 100,000 paid carers in Ireland and their work needs to be recognised.
Their Deputy General Secretary Ethel Buckley said: "A national conversation on issues as significant as women’s role in society, the value and recognition of care both inside the home and in the wider community, and the definition of family, deserves time."
Catherine Cox, Head of Communications and Policy at Family Carers Ireland, said:
"We believe this referendum, and in particular, the replacement of Article 41.2 with wording that recognises the societal value of care in the home and wider community and obliges the State to take measures to support family carers, is a milestone moment in our history and therefore are calling for the urgent publication of the wording."
According to One Family there are families living in Ireland now who are not recognised in our Constitution.
Chief Executive Karen Kiernan said: "the Government owes it to them to publish a wording as soon as possible before the referendum."
Labour leader Ivana Bacik it is unacceptable to see "delay and ambiguity" from the Government and said if there has been a change of plan "the least that the Taoiseach can do is to let that be known, and to provide clarity on when this important referendum is to take place."
Additional reporting Tommy Meskill
