General Election polls close

The polls to decide Ireland’s next government have closed around the country in one of the tightest General Election contests in history.

The evening rush to the polls is expected to boost voter turnout to surpass the 63% of the electorate who cast their ballots at the last General Election in 2002.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is hoping to secure a third term in office, but may not be able to muster a Dáil parliament majority with current Government partners, the Progressive Democrats.

RTÉ Radio will broadcast results of is Lansdowne Exit Poll tomorrow morning before ballot boxes are opened at 9am.

Earlier in urban areas, party workers were leafleting letterboxes from early morning and distributing specially-printed reminder cards to pedestrians.

The Data Protection Commissioner said it received complaints from consumers who received canvass texts on their mobile phone from candidates.

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent foresees change: "The conditions that we have taken for granted are going to change quite fundamentally."

"We need to have our voices heard," one student said as she took the Green bus to her polling station.