Voters are evenly divided on how they would vote for a united Ireland if it meant the Government paying €9bn a year, according to a new opinion poll.

The poll was conducted by Ireland Thinks between 27 February and 3 March among a sample of 1,200 adults across the country.

Details of the findings were released to RTÉ’s This Week.

Using estimates from recent British government budget accounts, Ireland Thinks used a rough estimate of €9bn per annum as the cost for reunification.

Asked how they would vote in a referendum if the cost of a united Ireland was €9bn a year 33.1% said they would vote in favour while 32.5% said they would vote against and 34.4% were undecided.

When the undecided are excluded - 50.4% said they would vote in favour, 49.6% said they would vote against.