No Bertie backlash in parents’ poll, FG and Labour show rise

SUPPORT levels for the Government parties have remained steady in spite of strong dissatisfaction with State childcare policies among parents of younger children, the Irish Examiner/Lansdowne opinion poll on childcare has found.

Fianna Fáil attracts 38% support among parents of under 14s, a figure unchanged from the Irish Examiner political poll in September, which sampled the entire population. Support for the Progressive Democrats also remains constant.

Both main opposition parties, Fine Gael and Labour, on the face of it, have seemed to improve their position on the September poll. Fine Gael attracts the support of one in four voters among this cohort (a rise of two points) while Labour's support levels are at 16% (a four point rise). However, detailed analysis of the September poll suggests that both parties, Labour in particular, have a stronger support among parents of younger children.