It is all still to play for in the Galway West bye-election with eight days more campaigning until voting booths open on 22 May.
RTÉ's Drivetime hosted a number of the candidates to discuss and debate the issues being raised on the doorsteps.
A total of 17 candidates are running in the bye-election to fill the vacancy made by Catherine Connolly's election to the office of President of Ireland.
In the first part of the programme, Fianna Fáil's Cillian Keane, the Social Democrats candidate Míde Ní Fhionnlaoich, Independent Sheila Garrity and Noel Thomas of Independent Ireland sparred on the issues of cost of living, migration and housing.
Fianna Fáil candidate Cillian Keane said he wants to deliver a home heating credit for people struggling with the cost-of-living as soon as possible.
He rejected that this goes against his party's policy.
Independent candidate Sheila Garrity said she congratulated fuel protesters on achieving their results even though there were challenges.
She said it is important that people have the right to protest.
Ms Garrity called for targeted supplements over the next six months, one-off energy credits and reduced charges for early childcare education fees and transportation fees.
Social Democrats candidate Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich said people are going without dinner or new school shoes to pay electricity and home heating bills.
She said targeted energy credits proposed by her party are to alleviate pressures in the here and now.
She also said long-term measures are important to reduce Ireland's reliance on fossil fuels which leave us vulnerable to sudden fuel shocks.
Ms Nic Fhionnlaoich said the Social Democrats believes in a strong tax base as it believes in strong public services.
However, she said she is not in favour of income tax cuts.
Fine Gael candidate Seán Kyne defended the Government's response to cost-of-living pressure.
He said it was not possible to predict what would happen in the Autumn but he said there was more firepower there to help people particularly on energy credits.
He said they had to be mindful of an uncertain future.
Sinn Féin candidate Mark Lohan said that a portion of the €9bn surplus should be used to help people.
He suggested that around €3bn would be covered by his party's suggested budget.
Asked about the risk of adding to inflation, he said people were at the pin of their collars.
Labour candidate Helen Ogbu said the fuel blockades happened as a result of people's frustration with the rising cost of living.
Asked if the blockades went too far, she said they had, but that was because the Government did not respond in time.
On the upcoming VAT cut for the hospitality sector, she said PAYE workers should be looked after.
Independent candidate Thomas Welby said 90% of the VAT cut would go to small businesses.
He said Ireland had a thriving economy but a struggling society with a crude system of help based on age or a means test.
Independent Ireland candidate Noel Thomas said he would stand with people at fuel protests again if his support was needed.
He said this support would include blockades, adding that people had no other option but to protest.
Mr Thomas said the Government can step in tomorrow morning to provide more supports to people.
On housing, Mr Kyne said it was one of society's main challenges.He said he had never objected to a housing development or a single house.
Mr Lohan said his party would dramatically ramp up the delivery of affordable and social homes but he said there was also need for regulation of short-term lets in Galway.
Ms Ogbu said Labour's suggestion of a state construction company could be done by transforming the Land Development Agency.
Mr Welby said Galway city was in trouble in terms of expansion.
He also criticised the idea of a state construction company as he said labour would be difficult.
He also said there was an imbalance between social and affordable housing with too many social homes.
On immigration, Ms Ogbu said migrants could not be blamed for the housing crisis and she said instead there should be a focus on how migrants contribute to the country.
Mr Kyne said there were concerns out there but also an understanding of the challenges presented by migration as well as the benefits particularly in bringing skills to Ireland.
Mr Lohan said Sinn Féin had listened to communities and was in favour of a managed migration system.
He said the Government had made a mess of the IPAS system making millionaires of some private providers while asylum seekers were waiting too long for decisions.
Mr Welby said it was inhumane to keep people here for 10 years and not make a decision on their status, he said people should be given certainty.
But he added that there was a shortage of lots of skills in Ireland.
Also speaking on immigration, Mr Thomas said middle-class people are annoyed at paying taxes while "watching other people coming in and getting everything for nothing".
Ms Garrity said she is not hearing concerns at doors about immigration, adding that everyone in Ireland has a family member who has had to immigrate.
She said Government failure is to blame for the housing and healthcare crisis, not immigrants.
Mr Keane said there was a major intake of people coming in from Ukraine and elsewhere.
However, he said it must be looked at now in the long term.
He said work is being done by the Government to ensure a firm and fair system.
He added that immigration is positive and has brought the country from "strength to strength".
Ms Nic Fhionnlaoich said schools in Conamara would have closed if Ukrainians had not moved there.
She said the biggest threat to the Irish language is the housing crisis and problems in the education system.
Ms Nic Fhionnlaoich said people are being attacked due to the rhetoric coming from leaders in our communities and the Dáil.
Mr Thomas said policy should be brought in certain areas to ensure that local people could buy the house rather than somebody outside the area.
He said that every second house is empty because it is a holiday home.
Ms Garrity said the short-term letting bill will not touch Conamara and will only affect Galway city.
Mr Keane said increasing supply and stopping delays to critical infrastructure was important while Ms Nic Fhionnlaoich put emphasis on increasing affordable supply.
