The Taoiseach Enda Kenny says the election will be early next Spring.

Mr Kenny reiterated his intention to have a 2016 election while speaking at an event in Madrid today.

And speaking to Independent.ie, he even spelled it out.

It comes after a poll indicated an election in the new year may be the right decision.

The Behaviour & Attitudes poll was taken between October 5th and 14th.

Fine Gael droped three points to 24 compared to two months ago, while Labour gained two points to 8 - but their combined support is well short of re-election levels.

Fianna Fáil fell one point to 19, and now stand level with unchanged Sinn Féin - but the poll also shows how the electorate is becoming increasingly fractured.

17% support independent candidates - including 5% for the Independent Alliance.

The combined left bloc of the Socialist/Anti Austerity/People Before Profit alliance are on 7, Renua are on 2, while the Greens, Social Democrats and the Workers Party are each on 1%