The HSE says it will be able to carry out 100,000 tests per week for Covid-19 over the next few weeks.
It follows agreement between the Department of Health and HSE on a new model to scale up capacity.
An increased demand for testing is expected over the coming week due to changes in the case definition.
It will see anyone with a cough, fever or shortness of breath eligible for a test.
10,000 daily tests can currently be carried out.
HSE CEO Paul Reid said the deadly virus will be here for a long time, and that we will have to look at the Irish health system through a new lens, and plan for non-virus services for patients.
We now have to look through a new lens as to how we deliver health services in Ireland. We need to retain some of our responses for #Covid19 as they have proven good for the public. Working closer with GPs and unlocking the huge passion of staff are just two. @HSELive @ICGPnews
— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) April 26, 2020
Meanwhile, 75 nursing homes have been given a "status red", meaning there is a significant risk to how they are operating.
The HSE is currently supporting 425 long term residential care facilities affected by Covid-19.
The HSE's Chief Operations Officer, Anne O'Connor, said a major factor in designating a nursing home as "status red" is staffing levels.
She said these facilities are where they've deployed the highest numbers of staff.
Ms O'Connor said 60% of all items of PPE that the HSE has supplied anywhere in the last week has gone directly to nursing homes.
