SUPPORT for Fianna Fáil is on the increase but Fine Gael is still leading the opinion polls ahead of the Republic's general election.
The polls show Fine Gael as comfortably the most popular party ahead of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and Labour.
However when independent candidates were taken together with smaller parties, including the Greens and Renua, they had more support that Fianna Fáil.
The Red C poll for the Sunday Business Post taken at the beginning of last week shows Fine Gael down two points on the previous poll at 30 per cent; independents/others unchanged on 23 per cent; Fianna Fáil up two percentage points on 19 per cent; Sinn Féin unchanged on 19 per cent and Labour on nine per cent.
The Behaviour and Attitudes Poll for The Sunday Times shows Fine Gael at 31 per cent; independents/others up two points on 26 per cent; Fianna Fáil up one point on 20 per cent; Sinn Féin down one point at 16 per cent and Labour down two points at six per cent.
Although no official date has yet been set for the Republic's general election, it must be held before April 8. There is widespread speculation the polling day will be on February 26, ahead of March's St Patrick's Day celebrations and the run-up to the Easter Rising centenary commemorations.
