A new opinion poll shows a considerable jump in support for the Government.

In a Behaviour and Attitudes survey for today's Sunday Times, Fine Gael rise five points to 31% and Labour one point to 8%.

Satisfaction with the Government goes up by seven points to 35%, while the Taoiseach and Tánaiste's satisfaction ratings go up four and five points. 

However, there is bad news all around for opposition parties, each of which has lost support.

Fianna Fáil lose one point to 19%, Sinn Féin are down four to 17%, and independents and others are down 2 to 24%.

Within the independent category, Anti Austerity Alliance / People Before Profit go from eight points to four and the Greens go from one point to four.

The Independent Alliance - led by Shane Ross - is at 4% (down 4 points), with support for unattached Independents at 11% (down one point).

Two new parties - the Social Democrats and Renua - are on one point a piece, alongside the Workers' Party.

However the poll shows that much is still to play for in the run-up to next year's election, as undecideds make up more than a quarter of all those surveyed 

Stephen O'Brien, Political Editor of The Sunday Times, says the numbers put Fine Gael and Labour very close to reaching an overall majority again, with overall support being close to the "magic number" of 40% that some analysts believe could see them returning to power after the next election.