Sinn Féin has plummeted to its lowest poll rating since before 2020, according to the latest poll. 

The Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll saw the main party drop four points to 18% of first preferences. 

This is also a 19-point drop since the party’s peak in October 2022. 

Fine Gael has raced ahead to the top of the poll at 24%, an increase of two points since the last poll. 

Fianna Fáil saw the biggest increase in support at three points, although it is the second most popular party at 20%. 

The Green Party, Social Democrats and Aontú all polled at 4%, while the Labour Party polled at 3%. 

Independent politicians and other parties saw a three-point decrease to 20%. 

The majority (33%) said their preferred Government is a coalition between Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Independent politicians. 

A quarter of people asked supported a Sinn Féin-led Government excluding Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, while 20% supported the existing coalition. 

When left with the most popular options, 64% said they supported a Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil-Independents coalition while 36% supported a Sinn Féin majority. 

Drop for Sinn Féin

Some 44% of people polled said Simon Harris will most likely be the next Taoiseach, compared to 20% for Micheál Martin and Mary Lou McDonald each. 

When asked why they think Sinn Féin has lost support, 33% said it is due to a “lack of clear message over immigration” while 26% said it is due to “faltering leadership”. 

Some 12% of people now see the party as “too establishment”, according to the poll. 

Housing is currently the most pressing issue to people at 58%, a four-point increase, while immigration is the most important issue to 29% of people polled. 

Sinn Féin saw success in Northern Ireland this weekend, however, becoming the largest Northern Irish party in Westminster – although they will maintain their tradition of refusing to take their seats.