Grealish and Fahy take last two Galway West seats

Last remaining seats in Galway West have been filled by PD candidate Noel Grealish and FF's Frank Fahy.

Last remaining seats in Galway West have been filled by PD candidate Noel Grealish and Fianna Fáil's Frank Fahy.

This news means that the PDs, as expected, will have a second representative in the 30th Dáil alongside Mary Harney.

The result means that there is no change in the constituency's representation after Eamon O Cuiv (FF), Michael D Higgins (Labour) and Padraic McCormack (FG) took the first three.

The result means there are just 10 seats still to be decided in four constituencies.

Attention is now turning towards the formation of the next Government.

Fine Gael's Enda Kenny is refusing to concede defeat and is not ruling out an alliance with Labour, the Greens and Independents.

But if the predictions on the final figures become reality, Fianna Fáil will end up with 78 seats. Fine Gael will get 51, Labour 20 or 21, the Greens six; Sinn Féin three or four, the PDs two and the Independents 5.

This final tally of figures opens up a number of potential combinations in order to make up the 83 seats required for a majority in the next Dáil.

That means Fianna Fáil could form a government with the support of two PDs, two Independents and the expected support of the Ceann Comhairle, who in this case is Fianna Fáil TD Rory O'Hanlon.

Alternatively Fianna Fáil could simply line up with Labour where the combined total of seats would be 98 or 99.

On the other hand Fianna Fáil could enter government with the six Green Party deputies, bringing the total to 84.

With 10 seats still to be filled in four constituencies to current state of affairs is: Fianna Fáil 74, Fine Gael 47, Labour 20, PDs 2, Green Party 5, Sinn Féin 3 and Others 5.