The Prime Minister of Ireland, Brian Cowen, has suffered another blow with the latest results from a RED C survey showing his support at just 11 percent.

The latest study reveals that just over one in 10 people would vote for the Fianna Fail leader in a general election.

The results are in line with a similar TV3 poll carried out in September, which also put his support at 11 percent.

The Sun newspaper commissioned the survey which included 1,000 adults who were questioned last week during the height of the student protests in Dublin.

The Labour leader, Eamon Gilmore, has once again come out on top with support at 39 percent, while support for the Fine Gael leader Enda Kelly fell from 27 percent to 23 percent.

Almost 40percent of people said they knew a close relative or friend who was forced to emigrate as a result of the downturn.

The poll also revealed that 45percent of people said that the recession had a detrimental effect on their health.

One in five of those polled said they had lost their jobs since Ireland's economy began to suffer in late 2008.