Number of seats: 3

Either of the two Fianna Fail TDs here, Noel Ahern (brother of Bertie) and Pat Carey could lose to Sinn Fein's Dessie Ellis. But Labour's Rosin Shortall could also be in trouble. Fine Gael little chance.

Prediction: FF1; Lab 1; SF 1.

Best candidate: Pat Carey (FF)

Weakest link: Roisin Shortall (Lab)

In the long grass: Bill Tormey (FG)

Number of seats: 5

Dublin's most populous constituency. Gay Mitchell (FG) to be replaced by former Lord Mayor, Catherine Byrne. It is possible Labour could take two seats here with Mary Upton and Eric Byrne. Also the Green Party candidate, Tony McDermot, could surprise.

Best candidate: Sean Ardagh (FF)

Weakest link: Michael Mulcahy (FF)

In the long grass: Tony McDermot (GP)

Prediction: FF 1; FG 1; Lab 2; SF 1.

Number of seats: 4

The issue here is whether former Fine Gael TD, Brian Hayes, can recapture a seat from one of the outgoing Fianna Fail TDs Charlie O'Connor and Conor Lenihan. Sean Crowe (SF) and Pat Rabbitte (Lab) seem secure.

Best Candidate: Pat Rabbitte (FG)

Weakest Link: Brian Hayes (FG)

In the long grass: Elizabeth Davidson (GP)

Prediction: FF 1; FG 1; Lab 1; SF 1.

Number of seats: 5

Fine Gael had three seats here. In 2002 it won none. If there is any revival in Fine Gael fortunes in 2007 it has to take a seat here. Fiona O'Malley (PD) likely to lose her seat. Barry Andrews (FF) not certain either.

Best candidate: Ciaran Cuffe (GP)

Weakest link: Fiona O'Malley (PD)

In the long grass: Richard Boyd-Barrett (PBP)

Prediction: FF: 2; FG 1; Lab 1; GP 1.

Number of seats: 4

Fine Gael should take a second seat here but its strategy in running four candidates is likely to fail. This means that the two outgoing Fianna Fail TDs, Noel Treacy and Joe Callanan, are probably going to be relected, as is Independent Paddy McHugh.

Best candidate: Noel Treacy (FF)

Weakest link: Paddy McHugh (Ind)

In the long grass: Ulick Burke (FG)

Prediction: FF 2; FG 1; Ind 1.

Number of seats: 5

Fianna Fail is intent on recovering a third seat here most likely from the PD TD, Noel Grealish. Fine Gael could lose out to Green candidate, Galway mayor, Niall O Brolchain. Michael D Higgins (Lab) not certain.

Prediction: FF: 3; Lab 1; GP 1.

Best candidate: Michael D Higgins (Lab)

Weakest link: Pádraic McCormack (FG)

In the long grass: Niall O Brolchain (GP)

Number of seats: 3

Fianna Fail (Tom McEllistrim) and Fine Gael (Jimmy Deenihan) certain to take a seat each. The question is can Labour recover Dick Spring's old seat for Terry O'Brien, from Martin Ferris (SF). Ferris toped the poll in 2002 but seems in trouble now.

Best candidate: Terry O'Brien (Lab)

Weakest link: Martin Ferris (SF)

In the long grass: Norma Foley (FF)

Prediction: FF1; FG 1; Lab 1.

Number of seats: 3

John O'Donoghue (FF) certain. Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Lab) should be OK. The issue here is whether Fianna Fail's Tom Fleming can take the seat of Jackie Healy Rea (Ind). Fine Gael no chance.

Prediction: FF 2; Lab 1. 

Best candidate: John O'Donoghue (FF)

Weakest link: Jackie Healy-Rea (Ind)

In the long grass: Tom Fleming (FF)

Number of Seats: 5

One seat already decided, that of outgoing Ceann Comhairle, Rory O'Hanlon (FF). Caoimhghin O Callan (SF) is certain to hold his seat. Ditto Seymour Crawford (FG) and Brendan Smith (FF). The only doubt centres on Paudge Connolly (Ind), a hospital candidate.

Village Prediction: FF 2; FG 1; Ind 1

Best candidate: Brendan Smith (Ind)

Number of Seats: 5 

Fianna Fail likely will lose a seat here either to Fine Gael's Fergal Browne with the Green Party candidate, Mary White, taking the Labour seat held by the retiring TD, Seamus Pattison. The likely Fianna Fail loser is the Carlow TD, MJ Nolan.

Village Prediction: FF 2: FG 2: GP 1.

Best candidate: Mary White (GP)