Support for independent candidates has reached its highest level since 2011, according to this morning's latest opinion poll.

The poll in the Sunday Times shows Independents - and potentially the newer parties - making gains at the expense of their larger rivals.

The poll for the Sunday Times carried out by Behaviour & Attitudes was taken between July 4 and 14 - so it does not include the new Social Democrats party.

However the polling company says the likes of Renua and the Social Democrats are included in the ‘Independents’ bloc - which is at its highest in over four years.

31% of voters say they would vote Independent - up 5 points in the last month - while support for most other parties has fallen.

Labour are down 1 point to 8%, Fianna Fáil down three points to 18, Sinn Féín lose two points to stand on 17, and the Greens are down one to 1%.

The only party not to lose support is Fine Gael - which remains on 24%, failing to regain the ground it lost over the SiteServ controversy.

Political Correspondent for the Sunday Times, Sarah McInerney, says Fine Gael will not be pleased:

In a poll of satisfaction in party leaders Michael Martin remains on top, rising 2 points to 42%. Gerry Adams remains unchanged on 32, as does Enda Kenny on 28. Joan Burton has dropped 2 to 34, while Eamon Ryan has dropped 3 to 29.

The poll also shows that Health Minister Leo Varadkar is the favourite to take over as leader of Fine Gael in the future, with 34% of respondents saying they would like to see him take the job - double the support for Defence Minister Simon Coveney.

Support for Leo Varadkar rises to 49% among Fine Gael supporters.