A Sinn Fein Candidate in Longford-Westmeath has accused Fine Gael and Fianna Fail of 'Hollywood levels' of play fighting.

Cormac Flynn made the call following the decision of Leitrim County Council to increase commercial rates by 5 percent.

Sinn Féin TD and general election candidate Claire Kerrane says the accommodation of immigrants has been badly mishandled.

Today's debate involved: Dr Martin Daly of Fianna Fáil, Dympna Daly Finn of Fine Gael, Claire Kerrane of Sinn Féin and Eugene Murphy, Independent.

Garda management have told local TD Claire Kerrane it’s to provide support and reassurance to the community.

Sinn Féin's popularity continues to slide down, with more than 50 percent of the over 1000 people surveyed saying they're not fit for government.

It comes 15 years after record floods caused millions of euro worth of damage to homes and businesses in the town.

A well-publicised NTA report last year found there was no State obligation to replace an Aircoach sevice between Athlone and Ballinasloe.