Galway West TD Catherine Connolly is expected to launch her campaign for the Presidential election next week.
The Independent TD has sufficient support to secure a nomination from Social Democrats, People Before Profit and several independent TDs and senators.
The Social Democrats national executive met last night and unanimously voted to put its support behind the Galway TD.
The party has 11 votes between its current TDs and one Senator - not including the suspended Eoin Hayes.
To get a name on the ballot paper any prospective candidate needs the support of 20 Oireachtas members.
Meanwhile, the deadline for Fine Gael candidates is next Tuesday, with former EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness likely the only nomination.
Sinn Féin is likely to choose its own candidate, while Fianna Fáil is expected to hold off announcing its approach until until late August
The election has to be held before the end of Michael D Higgins' second term - November 11th
