Voters strongly support the use of public funding to secure the position of the Abbey Theatre as Ireland's National Theatre, according to the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll.
Some 61 per cent say public funding should be used for this purpose, 25 per cent that it should not and 14 per cent have no opinion.
The findings come as the Abbey Theatre faces considerable financial difficulties. It has a predicted end of year deficit of €2.51 million.
Last month there were public disagreements between Abbey Theatre figures over the handling of the financial crisis.
Support for the use of public funding to secure the Abbey Theatre's position as Ireland's National Theatre is highest in Dublin and among the better off ABC1 social category. It is lowest among farmers and in Connacht/Ulster.
Some 73 per cent of Dubliners want to use public money to secure the theatre, 19 per cent are against and 8 per cent have no opinion. In the rest of Leinster 64 per cent believe public funding should be used, 20 per cent that it should not and 16 per cent have no opinion. In Munster 55 per cent are in favour of using public funds, 31 per cent against and 13 per cent have no opinion. Least supportive of the idea are the voters of Connacht/Ulster where just 47 per cent of voters are in favour, 32 per cent are against and 22 per cent have no opinion.
The poll was taken last Monday and Tuesday among a national quota sample of 1,000 voters in all constituencies throughout the State. In the ABC1 social class 68 per cent are in favour, 20 per cent against and 13 per cent have no opinion.
Within the less well-off C2DE group, 58 per cent are in favour, 28 per cent against and 14 per cent have no opinion..
Among farmers just 50 per cent are in favour, 32 per cent against and 18 per cent have no opinion.
As well as regional variations there is a substantial difference between urban and rural voters on whether they favour using public funding to secure the Abbey's future as the National Theatre.
In urban areas 68 per cent of voters are in favour, 21 per cent against and 11 per cent have no opinion.
In rural areas 51 per cent are in favour, 31 per cent against and 18 per cent have no opinion.