Ireland is voting in a parliamentary election that will decide the next government. It also will show whether Ireland bucks the global trend of incumbents being ousted by disgruntled voters.

The polls are set to open for the Irish general election. Polling stations will be open between 07:00 and 22:00 local time on Friday to allow voters to choose representatives to serve as Teachtaí Dála (TDs) in the Dáil, the lower house of the Oireachtas (Ireland's parliament).

Some 174 seats across 43 constituencies in Ireland's parliament are being contested. The vote will close at 10pm with counting getting under way on Saturday morning.

Ireland began voting Friday in a closely-fought general election with the incumbent coalition neck-and-neck with opposition party Sinn Fein after a campaign marked by rancour over housing and cost-of-living crises.

The polls opened at 7am and will close at 10pm, with a total of 174 seats in the country’s parliament to be filled – more than ever before. | UTV News

As polls in the country’s general election prepare to open on Friday, there are lots of voters who say they feel “frustrated” and “grumpy”. Pressures around housing, immigration and public services have dominated the campaign.

Polls open in election to choose Ireland's next government after A campaign dominated by housing and immigration

Emma is one of many voters in the Republic of Ireland who will be heading to the polls on Friday In what is one of Europe's best performing economies, mum-of-four Emma says she lies awake at night worrying if her children will get the medical care they need.