The Social Democrats are calling for Ireland to set up its own version of Britain's NHS.

The party says a community-based service, with free universal healthcare, could be funded if Ireland chose NOT to scrap the Universal Social Charge.

The plans are included in its pre-election manifesto published outside the GPO.

Its plans for universal community healthcare would be funded by retaining the Universal Social Charge - which currently raises about €4 billion a year.

They'd also put the money towards free schoolbooks and transport for all primary school pupils.

However the party could have trouble convincing a potential larger coalition partner to retain the Universal Social Charge, as all four of the major parties are promising to eliminate it for most workers, if not all.

Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly filed a report for Today FM's National Lunchtime News: