FF on 80 seats, PDs on eight

Election candidates in five constituencies are awaiting the results of recounts.

The recount in Limerick West will resume later this morning. Recounts are ongoing in Cork South Central and Wicklow, while in Cavan-Monaghan, the recount will not start until Tuesday.

There is also a recount ongoing in Longford-Roscommon.

A recount in Dublin Central - Bertie Ahern's constituency - left the result unchanged yesterday.

Pending the outcome of the recounts, the current state of play is:

Fianna Fail - 80 seats (likely to gain one more, to bring total to 81)

Fine Gael - 31

Labour - 21

Progressive Democrats - 8

Green Party - 6

Sinn Fein - 5

Socialist Party - 1

Independents - 13