There is a significant increase in support for the Green Party with days to go before the European and local elections, according to two new public opinion polls.

The Green Party has seen its vote increase by four points in both of the polls which would suggest a rising trend of support.

The Sunday Business Post/Red C poll has the Green Party up four points to 7pc while the Sunday Times/Behaviour and Attitudes poll has them up four to 5pc.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan will now seek to capitalise on these gains as a growing section of the public becomes more aware of environmental issues.

The Green Party is running a candidate in all three constituencies for the EU elections with Ciaran Cuffe in Dublin being seen as their best chance of a seat.

The party currently has just 12 sitting councillors but it is running close to 77 candidates in next week’s local elections.

The two opinion polls also show a tightening gap in public support for the two main parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.

The state of the other parties in the Red C poll shows:  Fine Gael 28pc (-5) Fianna Fáil 24pc (+1) Independents 14pc (-2) Sinn Fein 13pc (-1) Labour 5pc (=) Social Democrats 2pc (=) Solidarity-PBP 2pc (+1) Aontu 2 (+1) Renua 1 (+1)

The Behaviour and Attitudes poll shows: Fine Gael 28pc (=) Fianna Fail 28pc (-1) Sinn Féin 19pc (-2) Labour 4pc (=) Independent Alliance 3pc (-1) Sol-PBP 3 (+2) Social Democrats 1pc (=) Independents and others 9pc (-1).

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