According to opinion polls, Sinn Féin (21.1 per cent), Fine Gael (21 per cent) and Fianna Fáil (19.5 per cent) are almost neck and neck in terms of first choice votes in the general election.

The Social Democrats are on 5.8 per cent of first preference votes, followed by Labor (5 per cent) and the Green Party (4 per cent).

Elsewhere, the exit poll showed: Unite (3.6 per cent), People Before Profit-Solidarity (3.1 per cent) and Independent Ireland (2.2 per cent).

Independent candidates and other candidates were 14.6 percent.

There is a margin of error of 1.4 percent.

The survey, commissioned by The Irish Times, RTÉ, TG4 and Trinity College, Dublin and carried out by Ipsos B&A, gives the first clear indication of the outcome of the election.

The exit poll is based on approximately 5,000 interviews conducted with voters immediately after voting in the 43 constituencies across the country.

The interviews were very short, self-administered and conducted in private to mimic the voting experience as closely as possible.

More detailed results will be released over the weekend. These will include the issues most important to voters when casting their vote and issues of attitude and policy. This will provide a much more detailed picture of the mood and profile of the electorate.

Sinn Féin’s director of elections Matt Carthy praised his party’s performance.

He said the party’s disappointing showing in June’s local and European elections was a significant turnaround.

“When you think about where we would be coming out of the local and European elections, I have to say it’s a fantastic result,” Mr Carthy told RTÉ.

He added: “We remember that the exit poll in 2020 was under 2 per cent over Sinn Féin. So if that were to happen tomorrow morning, there is every chance that Sinn Féin will emerge from these elections as the largest political party.”

Mr. Carthy would not draw on what the exit poll could mean for the formation of a coalition.

“This is a very positive exit poll but the actual votes will be counted tomorrow, so we’ll see where they land,” he said.

Polls opened at 7am and closed at 10pm on Friday, with a total of 174 seats up for grabs – more than ever before.

More than 3 million registered voters chose their representatives across 43 constituencies, in a campaign that focused on the housing crisis, the response to a significant increase in immigration, and economic management of the cost of living as well as possible future trade shocks. .