IRELAND'S regional cities should double in size to counter the growing influence of Dublin, Fine Gael leadership contender Simon Coveney has said.
The Republic's housing minister called for dramatic growth by 2040, more "balanced" development to bridge the urban/rural divide and further tax cuts.
His rival for the Fine Gael leadership Leo Varadkar is promising a "catch up" plan for left-behind Ireland.
Mr Coveney has garnered support from 20 Fine Gael TDs, Senators and MEPs, against the 45 backing Mr Varadkar.
Seven members of the parliamentary party have declared for Mr Varadkar, including Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald, ministers of state Michael Ring and Catherine Byrne, and Senator Joe O'Reilly.
Mr Coveney said some members who pledged support to him, including some members of cabinet, had switched sides over recent days, however.
Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week, he said he was assured of support from more than the 20 members of the parliamentary party. He added that he would not give names of those who pledged support and then switched.
When asked how Mr Varadker, the minister for social protection, was so certain of the strength of his support, Mr Coveney said "he wasn't actually".
"From some of the people I have spoken to, who would have been quite supportive, a number of days ago, never mind weeks ago, you know they've changed their mind," he said.
"People make decisions in politics for all sorts of reasons and I'm not going to start judging people. My job now is to put a persuasive argument together over the next ten days to change the mind of some of those."
He added that he would need to try to win back some of the people who switched and declared for Mr Varadkar.
Earlier, Mr Coveney said his goal was to make Dublin "the most dynamic international capital city in Europe" while targeting a doubling in the size of our other cities by 2040.
"I want to ensure that these cities have sufficient critical mass to act as effective counter balances to Dublin and that there is, in turn, real integration between the regional cities and their surrounding local areas," he said.
In his policy document, Mr Coveney also promised education, health and social welfare reform. He said he would make a "positive case" for the reunification of Ireland over time and within the EU.
Mr Varadkar launched his campaign on Saturday and offered a new social contract, an ambitious and expansionary economic policy and fair play for the private sector. He said there should be a catch-up plan for the Ireland left behind and measures to build a better society and modernise government.
