FF on course for seat gains as PD vote halves

As a clearer picture of the make-up of the new Dáil began to emerge this afternoon, Fianna Fáil looked set to make gains, with the possibility of gaining an overall majority.

Tallies were predicting they hold the vast majority of their seats, with a chance of adding more in Cavan-Monaghan, Meath East and Galway West.

Among the Fianna Fáil ministers set to top the polls in their respective constituencies were Martin Cullen, Noel Dempsey, Willie O'Dea, Micheal Martin, Brian Cowen and Dick Roche.

Fine Gael looked set to make gains with James Bannon in Longford/Westmeath performing well and Deirdre Clune on course for a seat in Cork South Central.

Labour's Breda Moynihan Cronin was in danger of losing her seat in Kerry South, while PD TDs Tim O'Malley and Noel Grealish likely to be in a fight to the last.

The Progessive Democrats are also facing a possible meltdown in Dublin.

While Mary Harney should hold her seat, Liz O Donnell and Fiona O'Malley look set to lose out, and Michael McDowell was facing a tough battle with John Gormley of the Greens for the final seat in Dublin South East.

Elsewhere, the Greens appeared to be holding onto their existing representation.

Fine Gael were likely to make gains in Dublin with Leo Varadkar, James Reilly, Lucinda Creighton and Frances Fitzgerald.

Despite topping the poll in Dublin Central, Bertie Ahern may not bring in a second seat in Dublin Central, while Fianna Fáil could lose seats in Dublin North and South Central.

Labour's Eric Byrne could be in the shake up for a seat, but party colleague Joan Burton faces a battle with socialist Joe Higgins for the last seat in Dublin West.

With the tally just about complete in Dun Laoghaire, Education Minister Mary Hanafin was coasting home with more than 2,000 votes above the quota.

Her running mate Barry Andrew's seat was also comfortable with almost 15% of the vote.