At the half way point in the election campaign, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael today concentrated on health issues, while Labour leader Pat Rabbitte launched his party's plan for fairer housing.
The Progressive Democrats were talking about commuters and the Greens highlighted issues facing the elderly.
Sinn Féin today outlined its manifesto on education. It includes promises to transform access to education and to promote lifelong learning.
Sinn Féin spokesperson, Seán Crowe says that in government they would prioritise tackling educational disadvantage.
The party also proposes to improve the position of the Irish language within the education system and will seek to establish an Irish language university.
The Socialist Party also launched their party manifesto. Leader Joe Higgins said his party would not take part in governments led by either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael.
Mr Higgins also accused both Sinn Féin and the Green Party of retreating from some of their policies in recent days.
Fianna Fáil's Bertie Ahern and Fine Gael's Enda Kenny today clashed over how the nurses' dispute can be resolved, with the Taoiseach saying he favoured asking someone from outside the country to help break the impasse.
Mr Kenny criticised the Government for not, as he put it, engaging directly and creatively on the issue. Labour leader Pat Rabbitte called the Taoiseach's suggestion of bringing in an international expert as a face saving formula to get past polling day.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who unusually attended this morning's Fianna Fáil press conference, criticised Mr Kenny's remarks that he would personally kick-start talks on the nurses' dispute and would chair the first meeting.
The Taoiseach described the suggestion as 'irresponsible' and said such a move would be outside Social Partnership.
Mr Ahern said he would be in favour of the establishment of a process to look at the issue of nurses' hours in the context of Social Partnership.
Opinion poll
Meanwhile, the latest opinion poll has shown support for Fianna Fáil has risen by 2% to 36% in the past two weeks.
The TNS/mrbi poll in The Irish Times shows support for Fine Gael has fallen by 3% to 28%, but this is balanced by a 3% increase in support for Labour, which rises to 13%.
The Progressive Democrats drop one point to just 2%. The Greens also drop one point to 5%; while Sinn Féin support is unchanged at 10% and Independents and others are unchanged at 6%.
