Poll shows Fianna Fáil heading for meltdown

FIANNA FÁIL is heading for a Dáil meltdown with a new poll showing the party struggling to hold 20 seats, as Fine Gael sustained a commanding lead.

With 11 weeks at most left until the crunch showdown, the first poll of the new year showed Brian Cowen’s beleaguered party slumping another three points to 14% — level with Sinn Féin.

Fine Gael rose one point to 35% in the Red C/Paddy Power snapshot survey, with Labour drifting down two points to 21%, the Greens at 4% and independents at 12%.