The political parties have much to ponder this morning.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael should know their combined seat total today, and that figure will influence their next move.
They will need the support of either Independents or political parties to get a comfortable Dáil majority.
Indeed, it might take 95 TDs supporting a new government to provide a robust majority which would withstand the inevitable losses along the way.
The next steps are likely to see the political parties holding internal meetings over the coming days.
Fine Gael will gather on Wednesday, but already senior party members such as Paschal Donohoe said the principle aim is to form a stable government.
Party leader Simon Harris has already contacted all the party's new TDs. He did so by phone throughout yesterday afternoon.
Fianna Fáil, too, is thinking about forming that government with Fine Gael.
Last time it had two more seats (after Sean Ó Fearghaíl was elected Ceann Comhairle) when it began sharing power with Fine Gael.
This time the seat difference between the parties will be greater, but the rotating Taoiseach offer is non-negotiable.
For the moment, Fianna Fáil might stand back for a little while to allow the two expanded centre-left parties talk to each other first.
After all, that is what Labour Leader Ivana Bacik said she would do after the election.
Social Democrats Deputy Leader Cian O'Callaghan is also making positive comments about joining a government.
That party is likely to hold discussions with Sinn Féin too, but those talks cannot deliver a majority government.
There is also the option of the Independents joining the government.
In 2020 there were talks with non-party TDs about government formation, but they were not comprehensive. This time it will be different.
However, there remains a strong view among many of the senior figures in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael that a three-party government functions better.
Of course, it also affords greater political cover in times of difficulty.
The next big day on the political calendar is 18 December when the 34th Dáil meets for the first time. But this will primarily be a ceremonial event.
The real talking about the make-up of the next government might not start until January.
