The Labour Party has launched its proposals for Budget 2019 with a clear focus on investment in public services over tax cuts.
Leader Brendan Howlin said he believed most people wanted to see further investment in education, health and housing, rather than "promising everyone a few bucks".
The party's plans include replacing the rainy day fund with a national housing development bank which would invest €500m in housing next year.
Deputy Howlin said his party is pro-local authority housing and proposes that €723m is spent on building over 3,600 council houses and apartments in 2019.
The party is also calling for any additional revenue from the Universial Social Charge (USC) to be earmarked for the health service, and the implementation of the Sláintecare report.
The party is proposing a €5 increase in social welfare payments and giving the back-to-school payment of €125 to all parents from July 2019.
To pay for such measures, Labour is recommending doubling the bank levy, increasing the 9% VAT rate for the hotel sector to 13.5%, increasing carbon tax by €10 and abolishing the help-to-buy scheme.
It is not proposing any cuts to income tax.
The Green Party has called for an additional €1bn to be spent on housing next year.
Launching its pre-budget submission, the party also called on Government to make public transport free for students, and it wants €500m set aside for a Rainy Day Fund.
The Greens say that additional spending could be funded by a broader and fairer tax base.
This includes introducing a minimum effective corporation tax rate of 6%, raising employers’ PRSI on incomes above €100,000, abolishing the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality and tourism industries, and the reduction of tax breaks on pension contributions.
Meanwhile, the Social Democrats are calling for an additional €600m to be allocated to tackle the housing crisis.
Launching its alternative budget, the party proposed an affordable housing scheme for first time buyers, a freeze on rents nationwide and a vacant home levy.
But the party is giving the thumbs down to a rainy day fund saying it is already pouring down and resources should be used to build homes.
Some €978m should also be set aside to implement the Sláintecare health plan, the Social Democrats believe.
It says that €1.252bn can be raised from a range of measures including an increase in the bank levy, hiking the excise duty on alcohol, and raising VAT to 11% for the hospitality sector.
Additional reporting Mícheál Lehane
