RTÉ News Online has launched "Project 500", which gives every formally nominated election candidate an opportunity to make a one-minute personal political broadcast.
The videos are being carried across digital platforms.
Just over 500 candidates are expected to contest the election across the 40 constituencies, making Project 500 the most ambitious undertaking of its kind to date.
The videos, which can be viewed on rte.ie/election, on the RTÉ News Now app and on the News Now channel, were recorded at regional offices across the country.
Declan McBennett, editor of RTÉ News Online, described the project as an exercise in "open democracy with each and every candidate afforded the opportunity to speak directly with the electorate both at a constituency and national level".
Speaking as the project went live to coincide with the dissolution of the Dáil, he said: "The fact that in excess of 450 or 90% of those standing chose to record a video meant we could match our public service broadcasting ethos with a strong regional network to deliver the message from the candidates directly to the voters."
