Clashes over government housing policy

Fine Gael's Peter Burke has defended the government's record on housing

Speaking on RTÉ's Primetime, the Longford-Westmeath candidate said more homes are being delivered and said the progress can be seen in Kilkenny city.

But People Before Profit candidate for Carlow-Kilkenny, Adrienne Wallace, said the government has shown contempt for young people and a publicly-owned construction company must be set up.

Independent candidate for Tipperary South, Mattie McGrath, said: "Let the council houses build the houses again" but said he would be opposed to a state-owned construction company.