Boost for Fine Gael hopes of winning three Mayo seats

A NEW opinion poll suggests that support for the outgoing government parties is on the rise, a boost for Fine Gael's hopes of winning three seats in Mayo.

More than 1,000 voters were surveyed between Monday and Wednesday last for the Sunday Business Post RED C poll.

 With a spring election on the horizon, more voters are undecided about how they will vote.

 Some 15% have not made their minds up - that is up five points since last month.

But when they are excluded, Fine Gael is up one point and now stands at 32%. This continues a steady rise for the party throughout the year.

The Labour Party is also up 9%.

Fianna Fáil, however, is down two points to 17%. That is the exact level of support it won in its worst ever election showing in 2011.

Sinn Féin is up one point to 19% and overtakes Fianna Fáil as the biggest opposition party.

Independents and other parties are down two points to 23%. Within that figure - Independents get the nod from 14% of voters.

The Anti Austerity-People Before Profit Alliance is on 3%.

The Green Party, Renua and the Social Democrats all stand at 2% support.