Fine Gael has launched a €100,000 poster campaign accusing the Government of failing to tackle the country's housing, education and crime problems.
Unveiling the posters, the party leader, Mr Michael Noonan, said: "One of Fine Gael's key objectives in government will be to make crucial public services the envy of Europe."
The billboards mark an intensification of Fine Gael's preparations for the general election, now due in May, and will be followed by the party's ardfheis next weekend.
"Despite five years of unprecedented prosperity, Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats have failed miserably to tackle the real problems facing the country.
"If you look at their record carefully you will see that in the areas of public services which affect the quality of life - like traffic, healthcare, housing and education - that many things have gotten worse rather than better," Mr Noonan said.
One of the billboards condemns the Government's privatisation of Éircom - which it dubs "Eircon".
