Ireland’s centrist political parties struck a deal to form a coalition government, backed by a handful of unaligned lawmakers, after weeks of negotiations, according to the Irish Times.

Ireland has moved a step closer to forming a new government. Irish media says a deal was reached Tuesday between Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Regional Independent Group to form a government a month and a half after the election gave no party a majority of seats needed to control parliament.

Ireland's two major centre-right parties finalised a coalition deal with independent lawmakers on Wednesday that will return Micheal Martin as prime minister and continue the previous government's high spending economic policy.

Ireland’s two dominant political parties will return to power for another five-year term after agreeing a new coalition deal following weeks of negotiations.

By Padraic Halpin and Conor Humphries DUBLIN (Reuters) -Talks between Ireland's two historically dominant centre-right parties and independent lawmakers have reached an agreement that will give a new coalition government a "comfortable majority,

An agreement has been reached which will pave the way for a new government to be formed in the Republic of Ireland. This follows the Irish general election in November, in which Fianna Fáil emerged as the largest party.