A clear majority of voters supports Shell's plan to build a pipeline through parts of Co Mayo to bring gas ashore, but most of these want the project to take a different route than is currently planned, according to the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll.
Some 20 per cent of voters believe the pipeline should go ahead on its planned route, 44 per cent that it should go ahead but on a different route, 17 per cent that it should be scrapped altogether and 19 per cent don't know.
The strong support for re-routing the pipeline comes after a long and high-profile campaign by some local people who say the pipeline passes too close to houses and public roads, thus posing a safety risk. The recent independent Advantica report said the pipeline was safe subject to certain recommendations being followed. Shell has said recently that it has been reviewing alternative routes and is willing to talk about alternative options in mediation.
Support for the project going ahead on its current route or a new route is strongest in Connacht/Ulster, where most of the opposition has been based.
The poll was conducted last Monday and Tuesday among a national quota sample of 1,000 voters at 100 different sampling points throughout all constituencies in the State.
In Connacht/Ulster 24 per cent believe it should go ahead on its current route, 47 per cent that it should go ahead but on a different route, 16 per cent that it should be scrapped altogether and 13 per cent don't know.
Dublin voters are least supportive of the pipeline with 18 per cent believing it should go ahead on its current route, 45 per cent that it should go ahead but on a different route, 21 per cent that it be scrapped altogether and 16 per cent don't know.
In the rest of Leinster 24 per cent believe it should go ahead on its current planned route, 42 per cent that it should go ahead but on a different route, 17 per cent that it should be scrapped altogether and 16 per cent don't know.
In Munster, 16 per cent think it should go ahead on its current route, 42 per cent that it should go ahead but on a different route, 14 per cent that it should be scrapped altogether and 28 per cent don't know.
Support for scrapping the project altogether is highest among the youngest voters aged 18 to 24 (28 per cent) and it decreases steadily through the older age groups, falling to just 11 per cent among the over 65s. Sinn Féin voters are the most supportive of scrapping the project (32 per cent). Some 23 per cent of Green Party voters, 18 per cent of PD voters, 15 per cent of Fianna Fáil and Labour voters and 13 per cent of Fine Gael voters would scrap the project altogether.