There is some good news for the Government parties in the latest political opinion poll.
The Red C poll in tomorrow’s Sunday Business Post shows rising support for Fine Gael and Labour, five weeks ahead of the Budget.
There is also a small rise in support for Sinn Féin, which is now comfortably ahead of Fianna Fáil.
The first Red C poll in almost three months was carried out between Monday and Wednesday of last week.
It shows rising support for Fine Gael, which is up three points to 28, and now has a comfortable lead as the most popular party in the state.
There is also a one-point rise in support for Labour, who now stand at 8%, although given this is the first poll since Joan Burton became Tánaiste, Labour might have hoped for a bigger bounce.
Sinn Féin cements its status as the second most popular party in the country, up one point to 23. Fianna Fáil are five points back, unchanged on 18. Independents and others are on 23, down five.
The poll also asks people how any financial lee-way should be used in the Budget. Some 64% said they would prefer the money to go to public services instead of being used for tax cuts.