Election live: Donnelly struggling, Gerry Hutch performing well in Dublin Central | BreakingNews.ie

Counting is underway across the country in the general election, and you can follow live updates here throughout the day.

• Sinn Fein held 21.1 per cent of first-preference votes, narrowly ahead of current coalition partners Fine Gael and Fianna Fail at 21 per cent and 19.5 per cent respectively, according to the Ipsos B&A Exit Poll commissioned by RTÉ, The Irish Times, TG4 and Trinity College Dublin.
• It puts the two largest parties in the current coalition, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, on a combined 40.5 per cent.
• Counting started at 9am and could last days due to Ireland’s complex system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote (PR-STV), where candidates are ranked by preference.

12.20pm

Meath West too nearing a full tally – there will be one Sinn Féin and one Aontú TD, and then the final seat looks to be a fight between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

A member of the count staff as counting takes place at Nemo Rangers GAA Club in Cork, after voters went to the polls to elect 174 TDs across 43 constituencies during the general election. Photo: Jacob King/PA Images

12.10pm

Final tallies are starting to come in starting in Dublin Central where Mary Lou McDonald will top the poll but the big story is Gerry the Monk Hutch could finish 4th and take a Dail seat

The other story there is the underperformance of Clare Daly who looks well off the pace.

11.42am

Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch is performing well in early ballots in the Dublin Central constituency, and is currently in fifth place.

Mary Lou McDonald 19%
Paschal Donohoe 17%
Gary Gannon 13%
Gerry Hutch 9%
Mary Fitzpatrick 7%
Marie Sherlock 7%
Neasa Hourigan 6%
Malachy Steenson 5%
Clare Daly 4%

12pm

In Dublin West, figures don’t look good for Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman.

Fianna Fáil deputy leader Jack Chambers is currently at 21 per cent, followed by Sinn Féin’s Paul Donnelly at 19 per cent.

Fine Gael Senator Emer Currie is at 13 per cent, Peope Before Protfit’s Ruth Coppinger is at eight per cent with Mr O’Gorman and Labour’s John Walsh both holding six per cent.

There are five seats in the constituency.

11.36am

Incoming EU Commissioner Michael McGrath has said that there is a danger in reading too much in to the exit poll last night and insists that “everything is still to play for.”

11:30am

Taoiseach Simon Harris is on course to top the poll in Wicklow. However, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly is struggling.

Early counting shows Mr Harris in first place (28 per cent), followed by Sinn Féin’s John Brady (15 per cent) and Social Democrats’ Jennifer Whitmore in third (14 per cent).

There are four seats in the constituency and Stephen Donnelly is currently in fith (6.6 per cent), trailling Fine Gael’s Edward Timmins (6.8 per cent).