A former minister from Clare says he expects negotiations taking place today to result in a Fine Gael minority government.
However, retired Fianna Fail cabinet member Tony Killeen says he's not expecting a formal agreement to be in place in by Thursday, when politicians gather for a third attempt to elect a Taoiseach.
It comes as Independents and organisations representing the homeless and the vulnerable say the patience of the public is wearing thin.
With negotiators from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to set out their stalls again today, former Minister Tony Killeen says his party will have a number of hurdles to overcome before they can pledge support to a minority government.
Mr Killeen puts the rejection last week of Fine Gael's invitiation to participate in a partnership government as a reluctance by Fianna Fail to break their pre-election promises.
However, he's warned that the prospect of supporting a minority Fine Gael government isn't much more attractive to the party faithful and that agreement will take time.
As the waiting game goes on a number of civil society groups have called for the pace of talks to be stepped up.
Both St Vincent de Paul and the Disability Federation of Ireland have been critical of the impasse.
And some of the Indepedents who are still looking at what the two largest parties might have to offer are getting restless.
Kerry TD Michael Healy Rae said the public's patience is wearing thin – and people are worn out watching politicians having meetings.
He said that in the meantime, the economy and society was being negatively affected.
