Canvassing continues as campaign enters final weekend

As the General Election campaign enters its final weekend, parties are still attempting to win over undecided voters and shore up existing support by focusing on key areas for the electorate.

Fine Gael outlined plans to tackle the cost of living crisis, with proposals to replace the Jobseeker's Allowance with a new Working Age Payment, and further plans to raise the higher tax band threshold by at least €2,000.

Fianna Fáil focused on supports for families, including promises to introduce a €200 per month childcare costs cap and a national audit of childcare places that the party has said it will introduce in the first 100 days of the new government, if it is re-elected to power.

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Sinn Féin and People Before Profit-Solidarity focused on housing, with both parties separately highlighting their housing policies at unrelated events in Dublin.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald toured the southwest of the country today, where she visited Limerick, Kerry and Cork.

Meanwhile, the Green Party attempted to place the political spotlight on environmental issues.

In other events, Labour held an online launch of its care sector plans, while the Social Democrats called for assurances over Ireland's military neutrality, improved pay and conditions for Defence Forces personnel, and a new veterans support office for those who have retired from the service.

The policy launches come less than a week before the General Election vote date on Friday 29 November, with parties keen to highlight their key issues as the election campaign begins to turn into the home straight.