The Dáil is due to sit again tomorrow, although it is still unlikely a government will be formed.

There is growing speculation over who will support a Fine Gael-led minority government.

Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are continuing talks with independents.

Independent Alliance TD Michael Fitzmaurice says any agreement is still some way off.

Mr Fitzmaurice said: "Until you go down to the nitty gritty of the different issues, be it housing, rural Ireland, agriculture or whatever, you can never put a timeframe on them.

"But I would presume that if you started at the middle or the end of next week, if you had a good long shift of four or five days, it should do a lot."