SINN Féin has received a boost ahead of next month’s Dáil elections after a surge of support in the polls.
The Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll show support for Mary Lou McDonald’s party has jumped by seven points to 21 per cent.
The poll also revealed that Fianna Fáil climbed above Fine Gael for the first time in three years after Leo Varadkar’s party dropped six per cent.
The poll, which involved a survey of 1,200 people across 120 locations at the end of last week, has an accuracy level estimated to be plus or minus 2.8 per cent.
The comparisons are with an Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll held last October.
The poll, which excluded undecided voters and those intending not to cast a ballot, revealed that 25 per cent of those surveyed intend voting for Fianna Fáil.
While that figure represents no change for Micheál Martin’s party, Fine Gael’s share was down six points to 23 per cent.
Sinn Féin’s showing was up by seven points to 21 percent while the Green Party remains on 8 per cent.
Labour has dropped one point to five 5 per cent while 18 per cent of those surveyed say they will vote for independents and small parties, which represents no change.
Support for Sinn Féin has increased across all regions but the party is still weakest in Dublin.
The party will also be happy see Mary Lou McDonald’s personal rating rise by four percent to 34 per cent.
Satisfaction with the Fine Gael government has dropped from 42 per cent in October to 27 per cent while Mr Varadkar’s personal approval rating has fallen from 51 per cent to 35 per cent.