Minister Troy visits University of Limerick to support insurance education, skills and research initiatives
- Foilsithe: 29 Deireadh Fómhair 2025
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 29 Deireadh Fómhair 2025
Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, Robert Troy T.D., will today visit the University of Limerick (UL) to engage with students, faculty, and industry partners involved in the University’s Risk Management and Insurance programmes.
The visit will include a campus tour, a networking session with students and academics, and a presentation at the Kemmy Business School. The engagement supports the ongoing implementation of the Action Plan for Insurance Reform, which commits to working with key stakeholders—including the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs—to examine skills requirements in Ireland’s insurance sector and strengthen educational pathways to attract and retain talent.
Minister Troy welcomed the continued support provided by The Fidelis Partnership and its Chairman and CEO, Richard Brindle, through The Brindle Foundation, aimed at supporting students from the HEAR Access Scheme or SUSI Grant Scheme enrolled in UL’s risk and insurance programmes.
Speaking of the visit, Minister Troy said:
“I am delighted to visit the University of Limerick today and to see firsthand how its innovative insurance and risk management programmes are nurturing the next generation of industry professionals. The partnership between UL, The Brindle Foundation, and The Fidelis Partnership is a perfect example of how academia, philanthropy and industry can collaborate to support talent development, promote inclusion, and future-proof Ireland’s financial services sector.
This level of engagement is important work as we continue to implement the Action Plan on Insurance Reform, as well as the drafting of the next Ireland for Finance strategy. This strategy, to be delivered in the first half of 2026, will set the direction of the Irish financial services sector out to the end of the decade and beyond.”
Professor Finbarr Murphy, the Executive Dean of the Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, welcomed the Minister’s visit and the new scholarships, noting:
“At UL, we are committed to providing our students with the skills and opportunities they need to lead in the insurance and financial services sectors. Initiatives like these scholarships make a real difference, ensuring that talented students, regardless of background, can access and succeed in higher education. We are also proud of our growing partnerships with organisations that share our vision for an inclusive and resilient insurance industry.”
Robert Kelly, Ireland CEO of The Fidelis Partnership, added:
“We’re proud to work with the Brindle Foundation and the University of Limerick to support these scholarships. The passion of our founder, Richard Brindle, for supporting the next generation is reflected across our whole business and our aim is to help foster new talent and strengthen the skills base of the insurance profession in Ireland. By investing in education, we’re investing in the industry’s and the country’s future.”
In addition to the scholarship initiative, the Minister was briefed on NATCAT2.0, a collaborative research project between UL’s Centre for Emerging Risk Studies and Intact Insurance, co-funded by the Climate+ Co-Centre. The project focuses on the insurance sector’s role in addressing climate-related natural disasters and promoting societal resilience through innovative risk solutions.
Note to Editor
Action Plan for Insurance Reform
The Action Plan for Insurance Reform 2025-2029: A Stronger Market, A Fairer Future was published on 24 July 2025.
The first task of the Cabinet Committee Sub-Group on Insurance Reform was the development of the new Action Plan, to reflect the commitments made in the Programme for Government, the relevant government departments and agencies/bodies, and the associated timeframes for delivery of the commitments.
The Action Plan highlights a number of priority actions across six key themes:
- Transparency & Affordability
- Competitiveness & Availability
- Fraud
- Innovation & Skills
- Climate Protection Gap
- Legal Reform.
Action 16 under the Plan commits to working with key stakeholders—including the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs—to examine skills requirements in Ireland’s insurance sector and strengthen educational pathways to attract and retain talent.
Scholarships
The Brindle Foundation together with The Fidelis Partnership are to offer four scholarships each, eight in total. The scholarships are open to Students from the Hear Access Scheme or SUSI Grant scheme (Maintenance Band 1 – 4) enrolled in the applicable courses.
The Brindle and Fidelis Scholarships range from two to three years depending on when the student commences the Scholarship as applications are open to 2nd or 3rd year students and the award is valued at €5,000 per year.
Students will be eligible to do a summer internship(s) and complete their co-op placement with the Fidelis Partnership. They also receive ongoing mentorship and support from Industry experts and UL Alumni.
This is the second year the scholarships have been offered, following the success of the first year’s programme. The Fidelis Partnership also has a strong and growing cohort of UL alumni working across its London and Dublin offices, reflecting the strong links between the company and the University of Limerick. They are proud to continue supporting students through valuable work placements, mentorship, and career development opportunities.
ENDS