More voters would like to see the Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrat coalition returned to Government, according to the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll.
The poll shows a rise in favour of the Government of eight percentage points since the last such poll was carried out in September 2005.
Some 39 per cent were in favour of the existing coalition forming the next Government with 31 per cent preferring a coalition involving Fine Gael, Labour and possibly the Green Party. 16 per cent wanted neither of these and 12 per cent have no opinion.
Support for the rainbow coalition is up 3 percentage points since last September.
The poll was conducted last Monday and Tuesday among a national quota sample of 1,000 voters at 100 sampling points throughout all constituencies in the State.
Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats have a clear lead over the rainbow coalition on the questions of managing the economy, keeping taxes low and keeping the peace process in Northern Ireland on track.
Voters expressed greater confidence in the rainbow coalition improving the health service (33 per cent) than the existing coalition (24 per cent).
On the question of providing affordable and good quality childcare, 31 per cent expressed their confidence in the Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrat coalition with 28 per cent opting for a coalition involving the rainbow coalition.
Further details of the poll figures will be published in tomorrow's Irish Times.