The Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll: Almost a quarter of voters believe the Government has changed for the better in the wake of the Cabinet reshuffle, the Budget and the Taoiseach's description of himself as a socialist, according to the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll.
Some 22 per cent believe the Government has changed for the better, 10 per cent that it has changed for the worse, 58 per cent that it has not changed at all, 8 per cent don't know and 2 per cent have no opinion.
While the majority believes the Government has not changed at all, the 22 per cent who believe the Government has improved is significant, and goes some way towards explaining the rise in support for the Government, the Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil recorded in the poll results published last Friday.
The poll was conducted last Monday and Tuesday among a national quota sample of 1,000 voters at 100 sampling points throughout all constituencies.
People were asked to say whether the Government had changed for the better or not, in the light of the Taoiseach's recent description of himself as a socialist, the Cabinet reshuffle, the recent budget, and the indication by the Taoiseach that he intended to lead a more caring Government.
The perception of change is most widespread among Fianna Fáil supporters, where 37 per cent think it has changed for the better, just 2 per cent that it has changed for the worse, 52 per cent that it has not changed at all, 8 per cent don't know and 1 per cent have no opinion.
Labour is the only other party where more supporters see a change for the better than a change for the worse, although most see no change. Some 18 per cent of Labour supporters think the Government has changed for the better, 17 per cent that it has changed for the worse, 58 per cent that it has not changed at all, 5 per cent don't know and 2 per cent have no opinion.
PD voters are the least likely to see any change, with just 9 per cent saying the Government has changed for the better, 12 per cent that it has changed for the worse, 76 per cent that it has not changed at all and 3 per cent having no opinion.
Among Fine Gael voters, 14 per cent think it has changed for the better, 14 per cent that it has changed for the worse, 66 per cent that it has not changed at all, 4 per cent don't know and 2 per cent have no opinion.
Some 19 per cent of Sinn Féin supporters think it has changed for the better, 27 per cent that it has changed for the worse, 45 per cent that it has not changed at all, 8 per cent don't know and 1 per cent have no opinion.
Finally, 14 per cent of Green voters think the Government has changed for the better, 14 per cent that it has changed for the worse, 64 per cent that it has not changed at all, 4 per cent don't know and 4 per cent have no opinion.
The perception of change for the better is strongest among older voters, and weakest in the younger age groups. Among the over 65s, 30 per cent see a change for the better, 7 per cent a change for the worse, 57 per cent no change, 5 per cent don't know and 1 per cent have no opinion.
This belief that there has been a change for the better is weaker among the 50-64 group (28 per cent), the 25-34 and 35-49 groups, (both 18 per cent) and the 18-24s (20 per cent).