Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens will begin to try to reach a deal on a new government today.
The three parties will enter formal negotiations to see if a coalition can be put together.
Last weekend, the Greens’ parliamentary party agreed to go into talks.
It was earlier anticipated that a number of rural Independent TD’s including Sligo Leitrim TD Marian Harkin and Roscommon East Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice would have had a part to play in the next government.
Speaking earlier to Ocean FM News, Deputy Fitzmaurice says there is still a long way to go before any new formation is formed: