THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION is likely to take place at the end of October, with the necessary legislation to put the vote into motion set to be signed this week.

It’s understood there’s a memo going to cabinet tomorrow on the matter and indicates that Friday 24 October as the date of the election.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne will also sign the presidential order covering when the election will take place.

It’s understood Browne, in the last few minutes, has spoken to the Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister of State Sean Canney to brief them on the timing of the vote.

Recent days have seen the campaign to succeed Michael D Higgins begin to take shape.

So far the only confirmed candidates on the ballot Galway West Independent TD Catherine Connolly and former government minister Heather Humphreys, who was announced as the Fine Gael nominee today.

But others are circling the fray. The Fianna Fáil leadership appears to be opting for former Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin, who has received endorsements from party leader and Taoiseach Martin, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan and all eight senior Cabinet ministers.

Despite this strong backing, Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher remains in the running and vows to seek the party’s nomination.

Sinn Féin has yet to decide whether it will join Labour, the Social Democrats and People Before Profit in backing Catherine Connolly, or run a party candidate of its own.

With reporting by Christina Finn