Seats filled: 0
10.25am: Initial tallies are being calculated as parties and supporters keep a close eye on the counting here.
Tally people have told each other it is “early days” when others have optimistically pointed to strong first preference showings for their candidates in boxes across the constituency.
Although just 24pc of the boxes have been opened, initial tallies show Fine Gael minister Neale Richmond leading the pack with around 21pc of first preferences, followed by Fianna Fáil councillor Shay Brennan with 14.3pc, Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney on 10pc, Green Party minister Catherine Martin on 9.8pc and Sinn Féin candidate Shaun Tracey on 9.2pc.
Turnout is around 59pc based on these initial tallies.
There are candidates here which will do better in some parts of the constituency over others. A local election poll topper like independent Michael Fleming is a prime example of this, who appears to be polling well in his own local electoral area of Glencullen-Sandyford.
It remains to be seen whether his local success can translate across the constituency.
Counting begins in Ballinteer Community School.
9am: Boxes have been opened in Rathdown
The ballot boxes have now been opened in Ballinteer Community School, where the constituency of Rathdown will soon return four seats to the Dáil.
There are just two incumbent candidates seeking re-election in Green Party minister Catherine Martin and Fine Gael junior minister Neale Richmond after Fine Gael’s Josepha Madigan left politics and an additional seat was added to the constituency.
Tally people have received their instructions and will be keeping a close eye on first preference votes throughout the morning to see which way the wind has blown in Rathdown.
While both incumbents have been considered safe throughout the election campaign, the remaining two seats will make for an interesting contest.
Former Fine Gael minister Alan Shatter has run in this election as an independent, while Fianna Fáil councillor Shay Brennan will be looking to make a gain for the party in this constituency alongside his running mate Elaine Dunne.
Local councillor Michael Fleming, who was elected to the local council in June with more than double the necessary quota of votes, has been among the favourites to pick up the new fourth seat in Rathdown.
Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney, the former chief commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission who raised her profile in the European elections earlier this summer, and the Labour Party’s well-tested local poll topper Lettie McCarthy also cannot be ruled out.
It all remains to play for in Rathdown as counting begins and the early tallying gets underway.
