LEO VARADKAR is reportedly set to finish behind Sinn Fein in his own Dublin West constituency.
According to the Irish Mirror, the final tally of votes has the Taoiseach at around 20%.
That puts him behind Sinn Fein candidate Paul Donnelly is is reportedly on coure for 28%.
Fianna Fail candidate Jack Chambers is likely to finish further back on 16%.
Despite the dramatic nature of the figures reported, Mr Varadkar’s seat is not in danger.
However, he is on course to be short of the required quota needed to get elected on the first count, if the tally put forward is correct.
The projected results follow on from exit poll figures indicating major gains for Sinn Fein.
In a night of success for leader Mary Lou McDonald, the party appears on course for big wins across Dublin.
McDonald herself looks set to secure a big victory in Dublin Central, while both Eoin O Broin and Paul Donnelly are in good shape in the constituencies of Dublin Mid-West and Dublin West.
According to the Ipsos MRBI exit poll, the republican party is set to win 22.3% of the overall vote, just behind Leo Varadkar’s ruling Fine Gael party on 22.4%.
While the main opposition party, Fianna Fáil, sits slightly further back on 22.2% with the results pointing to a potential hung parliament.
Sinn Féin look set to be the biggest winners on the night, with their 22.3% share of the vote up significantly on the 13.8% recorded in the 2016 general election.
The surge in popularity has been attributed to a general unease among voters at soaring living costs, ongoing hospital shortages and Ireland’s homelessness crisis.
The full election results are due to arrive on Monday or Tuesday.
In the event that no party wins an outright majority, leaders will be given the opportunity to negotiate coalitions.
