Sinn Féin has seen its support fall by 4 per cent in the latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll.
The party is at 31 per cent, while Fine Gael is up two to 21 per cent with Fianna Fáil at 18 per cent up one.
The Green Party remains unchanged at 4 per cent.
Approval for the government parties has increased following the Budget last month.
The Social Democrats remain unchanged at 5 per cent, Solidarity/PBP at 4 per cent are up two, Labour is unchanged at 3 per cent , Aontú is at 3 per cent unchanged, while Independents and Others are at 11 per cent down one.
This poll also found support for the current coalition at 41 per cent has increased four points ahead of a Sinn Féin-led left alternative at 40 per cent, excluding Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, which has fallen five points as the public’s preferred government after the next election.
Support for a Sinn Féin-Fianna Fáil government at 41 per cent has also fallen two points.
