FIANNA FÁIL MINISTER of State Martin Mansergh looks likely to lose his seat in Tipperary South, according to the results of an Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI constituency poll.

The poll showed that Fine Gael TD Tom Hayes and former Independent TD Séamus Healy, now running under the United Left Alliance banner, are in the lead, while former Fianna Fáil TD Mattie McGrath and Labour Party senator Phil Prendergast are likely to go head-to-head for the third and final seat in the constituency.

However, as Fianna Fáil’s approval rating has fallen from 46 per cent to 10 per cent since the last general election, the party may be left without a TD in Tipperary South. Newly-independent McGrath left Fianna Fáil shortly before the election.

Meanwhile the Boards.ie General Election Poll confirms that Mansergh’s prospect of securing is poor, with the Minister of State at the Department of Finance receiving just 5 per cent support this morning.

The poll shows that Tom Hayes is maintaining a strong lead (26 per cent), followed by Séamus Healy (17.1 per cent) and finally Phil Pendergrast (14.4 per cent). However, it indicates that Pendergrast and FG’s Michael Murphy (13.8 per cent) are the most likely to battle it out for the final seat – with Mattie McGrath drumming up just 8.8 per cent support.