Exit poll boost for Sinn Fèin's bid for Mayo seat

A GENERAL election exit poll tonight suggests Fine Gael, Fianna Fàil and Sinn Fèin are deadlocked with support levels of 22 per cent.

The survey, conducted at polling stations and involving 5,300 voters, confirms the perception that the formation of the next government is impossible to call.

The poll indicated the following support for the various parties and groupings:

Fine Gael 22.4, Sinn Fèin 22.3, Fianna Fàil 22.2, Independents 11.5, Green Party 7.9, Labour Party 4.6, Social Democrats 3.4, Solidarity - People Before Profit 2.8, Aontù 1.8 and Others 1.5.

If the findings can be accurately applied to the four-seat Mayo constituency, it means Fine Gael, Fianna Fàil and Sinn Fèin will each win a seat with a battle between FG and FF for the last seat.

The exit poll was carried out by Ipsos MRBI for RTÉ, The Irish Times, TG4 and UCD.

The counting of votes begins at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar, at 9 a.m. tomorrow.