The Budget priorities should include under-resourced schools, hospital waiting-lists, housing and disadvantaged children, as well as communities battling drugs, Sinn Fein has said.
In a pre-Budget submission, the party's TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain, said the Minister for Finance could make "real progress toward the elimination of poverty" or go for a "fudge".