The final count of the general election is continuing in Longford-Westmeath where there are two seats to be filled, and just a handful votes separates outgoing TDs Willie Penrose of Labour and James Bannon of Fine Gael as they battle for the final seat. 

This is a crucial battle for Labour. If it secures the seat, it will give the party 7 TDs and automatically give it speaking rights in the 32nd Dáil.

Just a handful of votes separates Deputy Penrose from outgoing Fine Gael TD James Bannon.

Speaking at the Kenagh Count Centre, James Bannon criticised what he called "faceless politics" and the social media culture:

Bríd Smyth of the Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit has taken the final seat in Dublin South Central after a marathon count at the RDS in Dublin.

35 votes separated her from Fianna Fáil's Catherine Ardagh after 75,000 votes were cast.

A dispute arose on Sunday when Ardagh was overtaken by Smith.

Each ballot paper was assessed for mistakes - with 170 ballots being adjudicated on by the returning officer, who had to decide whether the votes should be counted.

Shortly after 5pm the returning officer declared for Ms Smith who joins 5 other AAA-PBB TDs in the Dáíl. 

Speaking shortly afterwards, Deputy Smith said Labour deserved the collapse in its vote:

Magnanimous handshakes as no hard feelings between Smith and Ardagh - 'good luck in the next one' ... #dubsc #ge16 pic.twitter.com/00jANImwRc

— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) March 1, 2016

Earlier, Labour's Aodhán Ó Ríordáin lost his Dail seat in Dublin Bay North.

Independents Finnian Mc Grath and Tommy Broughan as well as Sinn Féin's Denise Mitchell took the final seats in the constituency after three and a half days of counting.

Labour's Aodhan O'Riordan says at the end of the day the support just wasn't there.