Further data from a TNS mrbi poll carried out for The Irish Times shows support for the current Coalition at 32%, just three points clear of a Fine Gael, Labour and Green Party alternative.
The poll, which will be published in tomorrow's Irish Times, also shows that only 13% favoured a link up between Fianna Fáil and the Labour Party.
And in the event of a hung Dáil the poll shows respondents rejecting a Coalition involving Bertie Ahern and Pat Rabbitte.
The figures showed 32% in favour of a Fianna Fáil/Labour Coalition with 41% against.
But most felt that if there was a hung Dáil, Pat Rabbitte would enter government with Fianna Fáil.
Taoiseach questions significance of poll
The Taoiseach has dismissed the results of the opinion poll in Friday's Irish Times that showed the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrat Coalition neck and neck with Fine Gael and Labour.
Speaking in Co Tipperary, Mr Ahern questioned the significance of the outcome of the opinion poll saying that there had been a variance in levels of support for all parties since another opinion poll earlier in the week.
However, the Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, claimed the poll, conducted by TNS mrbi for The Irish Times, showed people wanted a change from a Government that 'has been in power for too long'.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's News At One, Mr Kenny said that the 26% support for Fine Gael, a drop of one, was the highest the party had been in a January poll for five years.
Earlier, the Tánaiste and leader of the Progressive Democrats said the poll results were disappointing for his party.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Today with Pat Kenny, Michael McDowell said the poll results would have a galvanising effect on the PDs.
He said that he still believed a partnership Government was the best way forward and it was preferable to have a combination of parties in government.
Mr McDowell said history had shown that single party governments tended to look to their own interests and act in a way that was detrimental to the common good.
The poll also indicates a doubling in support for the Greens from 4% to 8%.
Support for Fianna Fáil at 37% is down three points since the last such poll.
Labour at 11 is unchanged and Sinn Féin at 9% is up two points.
