Sargent claims sixth seat for Greens

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent has in the past few minutes been elected to the North Dublin constituency.

He reached the quota with the surplus generated by Socialist Party candidate Clare Daly's elimination and takes the second seat.

It will bring his party representation in the 30th Dáil to six TDs.

That leaves a total of seven still to be filled in the three remaining constituencies of Laois-Offaly and Tipperary South as well as Dublin North

Observers meanwhile, believe it is unlikely to be any change to the overall party totals, which will leave Fianna Fáil with 78 seats

Fine Gael is set to make significant gains with a total of 51 seats, while Labour should get 20, the PDs two, Greens six, and Independents five.

Fianna Fáil are currently on 74, with Fine Gael on 48.