Poll: Boundary change to save FF in Cork North Central

The results of The Evening Echo newspaper’s Red C poll for the Cork North Central constituency released today have shown a fall of 10% for Fianna Fail from 41% to 31%.

Despite the drop in support for Fianna Fáil, the reduction in the number of seats from five to four could save the party from handing a seat over to the opposition.

Fine Gael increase their vote (20% to 28%), but still only secure one seat while Fianna Fáil holds its two seats.

Labour TD Kathleen Lynch increases her vote from 12% to 17% from 2002 and is set to secure the first seat.

The biggest individual drop is suffered by Noel O’Flynn TD who headed the poll in 2002 with 16%, but secures just 14% in this poll.

The biggest individual gain is recorded by Fine Gael TD Bernard Allen, who increases his vote from 12% in 2002 to 19%.

The opposition candidates fail to gain a seat as Cork North Central was a five-seat constituency

In the General Election of 2002, with Fianna Fail held three of the five constituency seats, with and both Fine Gael and Labour winning one respectively.

Fianna Fail TD Dan Wallace is not seeking re-election.

The four outgoing TDs hold 67% of the vote with Fine Gael Cllr Gerry Kelly, and Sinn Féin Cllr Jonathon O’Brien both recording 9%.

Socialist Party Cllr Mick Barry gets 6% and Green Party Cllr Chris O’Leary securing 5%, suggesting that the anticipated increase in the Green vote is not likely in Cork North Central.

The two remaining candidates John McCarthy (Independent) and Ted Tynan (Workers Party) both secure 2% each.

The fall in support for the Fianna Fáil candidates is also reflected in higher dissatisfaction levels for Fianna Fáil than any other candidates.

It is recorded that 31% of those polled expressed a level of dissatisfaction with Deputy Noel O’Flynn FF and 27% expressed a level of dissatisfaction with Deputy Billy Kelleher FF.

The highest satisfaction ratings were recorded by Kathleeen Lynch at 57% and Bernard Allen at 56%.

When asked if they wanted to see a change in government, 59% of voters agreed. Given a range of options, the most popular option was FG / Labour at 23%.

Of those polled, 44% expressed a preference for a coalition involving FG, Labour or Green, while 41% expressed a preference for a coalition involving FF.

Cork North Central is a four seat constituency (a five seat constituency in 2002) with 10 candidates. It is a combination of Cork city (58% of electorate), suburbs (20%) and rural (22%).