President Oskar O’Sullivan has formally dissolved the 39th Dáil Éireann on the advice of Taoiseach Viktoriya O’Cullane.
The President issued a warrant dissolving the Dáil on Tuesday, 15 September, in accordance with Article 11 of Bunreacht na hÉireann.
Taoiseach Viktoriya O’Cullane went on a leave of absence on 11 September, with Nicholas Crasea, the Tánaiste, taking over temporarily in her absence.
The dissolution brings the current Dáil to an end and paves the way for a general election to elect all 21 seats in Dáil Éireann.
The Electoral Commission said preparations for the election had begun following the President’s warrant.
Polling is due to open at 20:00 Irish time on Friday, 25 September, and will remain open for 24 hours until 20:00 on Saturday, 26 September.
Campaigning is scheduled to begin at 20:00 on Friday, 18 September.
Four parties have been registered to contest the election: Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats.
Campaigning will be subject to further restrictions once polling begins, with state-sponsored channels closing for the duration of the vote.
The Electoral Commission said by-elections to Seanad Éireann would also be suspended for the duration of the general election process.
The election follows the formal dissolution of the Dáil by President O’Sullivan, with the Taoiseach’s advice forming the basis for the presidential warrant.