Government launches strategy to strengthen financial services sector
The Government have launched a new strategy to strengthen Ireland’s financial services sector, as well as secure it for the next digital transformation.
The Ireland for Finance Strategy 2026-2030 sets out 31 actions to strengthen the sector, and this includes increasing the number of jobs in the financial sector to 70,000 by 2030.
Actions include supporting the progression of financial services legislation, facilitating transformation and innovation, and further deepening the country's skills and talent pools.
Currently, Ireland is the fourth-largest exporter of financial services in the EU, and we are a leading centre for asset management, aviation finance, insurance, banking and capital markets.
The Government say that Ireland’s international financial services sector employs around 61,000 people across 600 firms, up from 35,000 people in 2015.
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris said: “International financial services are a major Irish success story. Employment in the sector has grown from around 35,000 when I launched IFS2020 in 2015 to more than 60,000 today.
“Our ambition now is to build on that success and grow employment to 70,000 by 2030, with one in four of those jobs located in the regions.
“But we cannot take that success for granted. Technology is transforming financial services, competition for investment is intensifying, and the global environment is changing rapidly. Ireland has to move with that change and stay ahead of it.
“That is why this strategy is firmly focused on competitiveness. Its 31 actions will help cut red tape, simplify regulatory and taxation frameworks, accelerate important financial services legislation, support innovation and ensure we have the skills needed for the next phase of growth.”
Speaking at the launch, Minister for State with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, Robert Troy said: “Almost forty years ago, Ireland made a bold choice. We chose to build something new. We chose to compete globally. And we chose to back ourselves.
“The IFSC started with policy ambition at a government level, setting the framework. The success of the IFSC sector has been built on strong public-private collaboration through successive strategies and by the countless individuals who promoted Ireland Inc.”
“Ireland’s international financial services sector is now a cornerstone of our economy, employing approximately 61,000 people.
“We recognise the importance of not only maintaining our reputation as a competitive and attractive location for financial services firms to operate, but also of building on that reputation to ensure our continued success.
“Through this strategy, Ireland will leverage the financial services opportunities that transformation presents, while ensuring our regulatory framework remains robust, proportionate, and fit for purpose.
“This new strategy reflects both confidence and ambition: confidence in the strengths that have brought us to where we are today, and ambition to ensure that Ireland remains a leading international financial centre for decades to come.”