All outgoing TDs in this four-seat constituency are seeking re-election: Paudie Coffey and John Deasy of Fine Gael, Labour’s Ciara Conway, and left-leaning independent TD John Halligan. There are 113,000 people living in the county, of which 45,000 are in Waterford city.

Rural issues

The hospital and the gaining of university status for the Waterford Institute of Technology are big issues in the county.

Farming issues

Waterford is a strong dairy county, and milk prices are the dominant issue this year. There is also a strong tillage tradition in the county, which boasts the largest average farm size in the country, so grain prices are also an issue.

Who will get elected?

Fianna Fáil will be targeting a seat here, and will be very disappointed if their lone candidate Mary Butler fails to make it. Similarly, Sinn Féin will be expecting to take a seat through David Cullinane. There is little chance of the three government TDs being re-elected. Of Fine Gael’s two TDs, John Deasy, the maverick who has been critical of Enda Kenny, is more fancied. He is a son of former Agriculture Minister Austin. Paudie Coffey has impressed as a minister for state, but his housing brief is a poisoned chalice and a big issue in Waterford city. He will be fighting for the last seat with Labour’s Ciara Conway hoping rather than expecting to be in that battle.

The odds courtesy of Paddy Power

John Deasy (Fine Gael) 1/80

John Halligan (Ind) 1/50

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) 1/14

Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) 1/2

Mary Butler (Fianna Fail) 4/7

Ciara Conway (Labour) 11/2

Grace O'Sullivan (Green Party) 35/1

Mailo Power (Renua) 50/1

Una Dunphy (AAA-PBP) 50/1

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Full coverage: General election 2016