Parties set publish policies on a range of issues

Political parties are set to publish policies on a range of issues today including workers pay; decriminalising drugs and Irish unification in the final week of the General Election campaign.

The Independent Ireland party will reveal its manifesto this morning in Athlone, with a promise to create a new Department of Efficiency and Reform aimed at cutting Government waste.

Independent Ireland's manifesto includes plans to reduce the lower rate of VAT 9% to help small businesses and the hospitality sector, and pledges €1 billion in additional support to the farming and fishing sectors.

The party also plans to offer new supports aimed at recruiting more healthcare staff and Gardaí to address the crisis in health and law and order.

Fine Gael's Paschal Donohue will launch his party's policy for Dublin, while leader Simon Harris will be on the campaign trail in Cork.

The Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald will join party colleagues Louise O'Reilly and Matt Carthy in Dublin to outline how they would make the achievement of Irish unity a priority in government.

The leader of Fianna Fáil, Micheál Martin will be in the Meath West constituency, while Charlie McConalogue outlines his party's vision for Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Ireland in County Roscommon.

Green Party leader Roderick O'Gorman will travel to Kilkenny to meet colleague Malcolm Noonan and publish their new Basic Income for Carers commitment.

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The Social Democrats will launch its youth manifesto, with a strategy that outlines how, in government, the party would increase funding for youth work services, restoring it to pre-austerity levels.

It also promises multi-annual funding of youth projects, including ongoing and evolving provision for support to retain and develop youth workers.

Labour publishes its plan to end low pay and give employees more power; while People Before Profit will unveil its plan to decriminalise drugs and make cannabis legal.