Sinn Féin confident of extra seat in Laois

Sinn Féin are poised to gain an extra seat in Laois with the wife of TD Brian Stanley, Caroline Dwane Stanley, doing well in the tallies in the Portlaoise district and Aidan Mullin in second place in the six seater Portarlington/Graiguecullen district.

Fianna Fáil's Paddy Bracken is set to be returned in the Mountmellick/Borris -in-Ossory district as is sitting Fine Gael councillor John King.

Independent councillor Brendan Phelan, brother of the late Senator Kieran Phelan, who failed to get the nod from Fianna Fáil and decided to go it alone, is also pooling very well.

John Joe Fennelly (FF) is polling very well in the Portlaoise district with FG councillor Willie Aird expected to top the poll again in the district.

The first count is expected some time around 7pm.