Two new opinion polls bring good news for Fine Gael, suggesting the party could pick up an extra seat in Limerick East and will hold its two seats in Laois Offaly.
The news is mixed for Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, who will each lose one and gain one, while Labour's seat in Limerick East is said to be under threat.
An IMS poll for Prime Time and the Irish Independent in Laois Offaly contains good news for both Fine Gael and the Progressive Democrats.
Both sitting TD Charlie Flanagain and newcomer Olwyn Enright should take seats for Fine Gael, while former IFA leader Tom Parlon looks set to enter the Dáil for the PDs.
But while Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen and Deputy Sean Fleming should be elected, the poll indicates that the third Fianna Fáil TD, John Maloney, is in difficulty, and may lose his seat.
In Limerick East, where MRBI carried out a poll for TG4, the story is reversed for the Government parties. The PDs look set to lose the seat formerly held by Des O'Malley, who is retiring. His cousin, Tim O'Malley, scores just 4% in the poll - not enough to hold the seat.
A gain is likely for Fianna Fáil according to the poll, which shows junior minister Willie O'Dea topping the poll with a massive 42%, enough to bring in his two running mates according to MRBI.
Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan has a good chance of being joined in the Dáil by party colleague, Mary Jackman, if she can beat off Labour's Jan O'Sullivan or one of the Fianna Fáil candidates for the fifth seat.
