Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she believes there will be a general election in November, despite denials by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.

She said her party would be ready for the contest whenever it was held and would field around 70 candidates.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said February, with Taoiseach Simon Harris adding that the Government 'wants to go full term'.

The party is holding its annual think-in at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin before the Dáil resumes on Wednesday.

Ms.

McDonald said the main challenge facing the economy was not resources but delivery—something, she contended, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil had proven they were incapable of doing.

Asked about the party's slide in polls, she said Sinn Féin is 'very well aware' of the work it needs to do, but is more determined than ever.

The Sinn Féin leader said the Government should not have any role in the disbursement of the billions of euro coming from Apple.

She said a Sinn Féin-led coalition would ensure €1bn was spent in deprived working-class areas on infrastructure, using DEIS schools as a means of identifying those communities.

Asked about criticism from Minister for Finance Jack Chambers about her party’s housing policy, she said he would need to be reminded that Fianna Fáil shattered Ireland’s economy and Irish people are now living on the other side of the world because of it.

Earlier, Ms.

McDonald said her party is approaching the new Dáil term with a 'renewed purpose and determination'.

Sinn Féin TDs, senators, MEPs, and election candidates gathered at the think-in with a focus on the party's new housing policy, as well as ensuring equality for communities when it comes to accessing healthcare and other services.

For weeks the party has been busy launching policy proposals, preparing its election manifesto, and holding selection conventions around the country.

It is understood a commitment will be given that Sinn Féin in Government would allocate €1 billion from the funds due to arrive from Apple for working-class communities who were unfairly hit by austerity cuts.

The party has already launched its 'Childcare for All' plan which promises parents will pay no more than €10 per day.

The plan, 'A Home of Your Own', is a summary of which the party is delivering to every household in the country.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ms.

McDonald said the electorate gave Sinn Féin a clear message and challenge during local and European elections in June.

She said the challenge is to 'make it clear' that there is an alternative and choice in Irish politics.

In addition, there had been a concerted effort, much of it online, to 'come at Sinn Féin', Ms.

McDonald said.

'We've worked hard over the summer, and we are now coming back into this Dáil term with a real sense of renewed purpose and renewed determination,' she said.

She said it 'does not make any sense' to place a cohort of vulnerable people in areas that are already stretched and under-resourced.

Using Thornton Hall as an example, she said local people have asked 'very reasonable questions' about the support that people who are placed there will be given and what they will be able to do to fill their days.

Separately, Ms.

McDonald said she is doing great after 'quite a year' and that the challenges she has faced have added a sense of 'steel and resilience' to her.

Speaking about her own health problems and her husband's cancer treatment, she said: 'We are out the far side and I feel so grateful for that.

' Ms.

McDonald said that any families that have faced health difficulties, particularly cancer, 'know that you don't walk the journey alone'.

'I have a great family, I have a great circle of friends, and yes, it was very tough, I will not lie, but the good news is we're through it.

We're at the far side.

Thank God, and I feel so grateful for that.

And I suppose for me, in the work that I do and in my public role, I think it's added a sense of steel to me and resilience,' she said.