International Financial Services Strategy - Ireland for Finance

Ireland has built a very successful international financial services industry over the last three decades. From its origins in Dublin’s Docklands in 1987, the sector has now grown to become a national industry with a presence across the country.

In April 2019 the Government of Ireland launched Ireland for Finance, its whole-of-Government strategy for the further development of the international financial services sector in Ireland to 2025.

The vision of the Strategy is for Ireland to be a top-tier location of choice for specialist international financial services.

The Ireland for Finance strategy is a whole-of-government strategy, supported through collaboration between public and private stakeholders.

The Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance at the Department of Finance, Robert Troy, is responsible for leading the strategy and overseeing implementation of the annual publications under the strategy.

The strategy is supported through two annual publications: an Annual Report which sets out key actions to be delivered over the year, and a Progress Report which sets out in detail the activity of the preceding year.

The employment target for the Strategy, to reach 50,000 people in direct employment in the sector by 2025, has been achieved. In 2024 employment numbers reached approximately 60,100, representing an increase of over 50% since 2015.

The Strategy is structured around the following five themes:

• Sustainable Finance
• Fintech and Digital Finance
• Diversity and Talent
• Regionalisation and Promotion
• Operating Environment

The current iteration of Ireland for Finance expires in 2026, and in line with Programme for Government commitments, Department of Finance officials are developing a new strategy for the period 2026-2030. A public consultation was launched on 21st July, and will run until 19th September 2025.