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Election Campaigns Continue Across The Country

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have launched their election manifestos promising billions of euro in tax cuts and spending increases.

Changes to the USC, increases in the state pension and policies on housing and health formed a large part of the promises.

Just hours apart Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil outlined what they would do if elected to government.

On the key issues of health and housing - Fianna Fáil promised an SSIA style savings scheme and a large build of affordable rental homes.

Fine Gael vowing to expand the help to buy scheme and to build more social housing.

Leo Varadkar promised 5 billion euro more for the health budget over the next five years.

Micheal Martin saying he'd double the National Treatment Purchase Fund to tackle waiting lists.

Both promised a 25 euro a week increase in the state pension

Both said they'd tackle the cost of childcare - Fianna Fail by increases in the universal childcare subsidy and Fine Gael with an additional 400 million for the sector.

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Meanwhile The Green Party has committed to spending 50 billion euro on retrofitting homes over the next 20 years.

Eamon Ryan has said he won't promise people tax cuts, instead preferring to use that money to invest in public services.

That includes a commitment to a large public housing construction programme, but Eamon Ryan wouldn't set out how many houses he wants to build.

He also said he wouldn't get into auction politics with ideas like a first time buyers SSIA scheme.

One health the party agrees with the Sláintecare plan proposal for five billion euro of extra investment over the next five years.

One number that will raise eyebrows is the 50 billion euro investment planned for home retrofits over the next 20 years, with Eamon Ryan saying it's essential to create the move away from fossil fuels.

While the party has big plans for renewables - with targets for 700,000 solar panels on Irish homes.

The party also wants to examine replacing the social welfare system with a non-means-tested universal social income.

While on transport the Greens say they would make public transport free for students and dedicate 20% of the transport budget to walking and cycling

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The Labour leader says promised tax cuts from other parties are a 'con job' and won't fix the problems in housing or health.

Brendan Howlin has launched the Labour Party manifesto which promises a rent freeze and 80,000 social and affordable homes between now and 2025.

The Labour leader says there's no party he wouldn't talk to about forming a government after the election, though he has some concerns about Sinn Féin.

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People Before Profit has called for 500 new electric buses to be bought by the state every year to allow free public transport for all.

It's contained in the party's climate change plans which set out spending of 7.1 billion euro a year on the environment.

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The Social Democrats have promised to build 100,000 social and affordable homes over the next five years if elected.

The party launched its manifesto this morning also promising a nationwide rent freeze, legislation to stop land hoarding and to eradicate homelessness over the life of the next government.

The Social Democrats also say 3 in 10 new houses should be reserved for affordable or social housing.

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