The first full week of General Election campaigning begins today.

Fianna Fáil will be the first major party to launch its manifesto later this morning.

The launch will see Tánaiste Micheál Martin getting ahead of the pack in the campaign with promises to hire 5,000 extra gardaí, cut inheritance tax, cut childcare costs and increase the State pension.

Elsewhere, Fine Gael is launching its housing policy, with commitments to build 303,000 homes over five years.

Taoiseach Simon Harris will pledge to use much of the Apple tax money to fund the plan.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald will be in Dublin to unveil her full team of candidates for this election.

The Social Democrats, meanwhile, are launching a pledge to set up a new Government accountability office to oversee public spending on big projects.

The party is also pledging to set up a new anti-corruption agency.