Ballot boxes opened countrywide

Counting is underway in the general election with Fine Gael on course to lead a new Government.

A Millward Browne Lansdowne Poll for RTÉ was carried out among 3,500 voters at polling stations across the country yesterday.

It puts Fine Gael on course to lead the next Government on 35.1% - but somewhat shy of what the party would need for an overall majority.

It is however the party's best electoral performance since 1982.

The story for Fianna Fáil couldn't be much different - on 15.1% according to this exit poll - and the party's worst performance ever. At just 8% support in Dublin, the party faces a possible wipeout in the capital.

Labour looks set to have its best electoral performance ever, polling 20.5%.

Sinn Féin is on 10.1%, the Greens have scored 2.7%, and the surge in support for Independents appears to have materialised, polling 15.5%.

These figures suggest Fine Gael could get 78 seats, Labour 41, just 10 for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin 16, one Green and 20 Others.

Counting is now underway with clear tallies due at lunchtime and first results in the afternoon.