Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail are expected to win big in this weekend’s election, according to a bookmaker.
Paddy Power has predicted that Fine Gael will drop 15 seats in the General Election, falling to 34 from 2016s 49.
Fianna Fail are expected to be the biggest winners with 59 seats; a 14 seat increase on the last election.
Sinn Fein are expected to gain seven seats to bring them to a total of 30, while the Green Party are anticipated to gain seven to bring them to nine seats.
Paddy Power’s Head of Political Betting, Joe Lee said: “The tide has been rising and it has lifting the boats of both Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein according to both Paddy Power punters and pollsters.
“With the expected implosion of Fine Gael came strong support for both Mary Lou McDonald to be next Taoiseach and her party to secure most seats.
“But that support has not been sustained in the betting in recent days as Sinn Fein continues to struggle against some troublesome undercurrents.”
Battles are predicted over the weekend for Minister of Children, Katherine Zappone, who is running in Dublin South West, Danny Healy-Rae in Kerry and Minister Regina Doherty in Meath East.
When the election was initially called less than three weeks ago, Fine Gael were odds-on (8/11, a probability of 58%) to return most seats. However, their odds have now plummeted to a 9% chance.
Meanwhile, Labour are expected to drop from 7 to 6 seats, while it is believed People Before Profit will sustain a major blow come Saturday with a loss of 5 seats compared to 2016, leaving them with just one.
Similarly, the remainder of Independents/others are projected to lose a little of their sway, with their number expected to fall from 23 to 17.
