Sinn Féin has plans to expand across Dublin and get the first ever mayor elected in the city, it was claimed tonight.
Launching the party's General Election campaign in the Republic, party president Gerry Adams insisted that TDs would only go into government if they could deliver real change.
Buoyant from Assembly success in Northern Ireland, Mr Adams said he also aims to increase Sinn Féin strength in Donegal, Wexford and Waterford.
He told tonight's rally that Christy Burke became the first Sinn Féin party councillor in Dublin 1985 and the party now has 14 councillors, two TDs and a MEP.
He added: "Sinn Féin is a party on the move in this city. We have made significant gains in every election in the last decade and will continue down that road after the next election."
Mr Adams claimed that the next few years will be crucial for republicanism in Dublin.
"We have the ability to hugely increase our representation across the four local authorities in Dublin and to see a Sinn Féin Mayor elected.
"We have the ability to win further Dáil seats and to become a leading voice for people across Dublin."
Mr Adams reiterated last weekend's ard fheis pledges that the party would deliver 3,000 acute beds in public hospitals and allocate medical cards for all under the age of 18.
Up to 14,000 social and affordable homes would be built for every year of the next government and class sizes would be reduced to 15, he claimed.
"Politics for Sinn Féin is about empowering people so that they can shape their own lives and their own country. We are about the re-conquest of Ireland by the people of Ireland," he added.
PA