Local election counts see FG make considerable gains

As counting continues in the local elections, 560 of the 883 city and county council seats have been filled.

So far, Fine Gael have won 206, Fianna Fáil 120, Labour 109, Sinn Féin 34, Greens 2, and Others 89.

Fine Gael so far this morning have won seats in Wicklow, Wexford, Dublin and Roscommon and are expected to gain two seats in Donegal.

Fianna Fáil, on the other hand, may lose three to four seats in Donegal, while their share of the first preference votes has fallen from 23.7% to 17.1% in the Dublin region where Maurice Ahern is presently fighting to hold on to his seat for the party.