Ireland's UN SDG's - Goal 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth 2024

SDG 8.10.1 (a) Number of Commercial Bank Branches per 100,000 Adults and (b) Number of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) per 100,000 Adults

SDG 8.10.1 (a) Number of commercial bank branches per 100,000 adults and (b) number of automated teller machines (ATMs) per 100,000 adults. Data is provided from a number of financial sources and the CSO.

Definition: In the UN SDG metadata repository the SDG 8.10.1 metadata document gives the definition as follows: The number of commercial bank branches per 100,000 adults. The number of automated teller machines (ATMs) per 100,000 adults. Adult population refers to the total population in the reporting jurisdiction of individuals 15 years old and above.

Data for Ireland

Previously published information can be seen in the previous CSO publication of SDG 8.10.1.

The CSO's 2019 publication Measuring Distance to Everyday Services in Ireland gives details of the distances people are from banks and post offices, as well as other everyday services. Work is ongoing regarding updating this publication, with the first modules due for publication in 2026.

SDG 8.10.2 Proportion of Adults (15 Years and Older) with an Account at a Bank or Other Financial Institution or with a Mobile-Money-Service Provider

SDG 8.10.2 Proportion of adults (15 years and older) with an account at a bank or other financial institution or with a mobile-money-service provider was supplied by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Definition: In the UN SDG metadata repository the SDG 8.10.2 metadata document gives the definition as follows: The percentage of adults (ages 15+) who report having an account (by themselves or together with someone else) at a bank or another type of financial institution or personally using a mobile money service in the past 12 months.

Data from the Central Bank of Ireland show that the number of credit cards in active use increased from 1.51 million in November 2022 to 1.62 million by November 2025. Over this time period, the total number of cards (debit and credit) increased from 6.79 million to 9.93 million. See table 7.1.

Internet Banking

The CSO's Household Digital Consumer Behaviour 2025 provides information on prevalence of the use of internet banking or mobile banking (including PayPal, Revolut, Apple Pay, etc.) in the State.

According to this publication, 94% of those who used the internet in the last three months had used internet banking in 2025. There was no difference between the rates for males and females, with both on 94%.

Younger people were more likely to use internet banking. Almost all (97%) internet users aged under 45 years had used internet banking, compared with 72% of those aged 75 years and over.

The proportion of households with children using internet banking (96%) is a little higher than those without children (92%). See Table 7.2.

SDG 8.a.1 Aid for Trade Commitments and Disbursements

SDG 8.a.1 Aid for trade commitments and disbursements data is provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Definition: In the UN SDG metadata repository the SDG 8.a.1 metadata document gives the definition as follows: This indicator is defined as gross disbursements and commitments of total Official Development Assistance (ODA) from all donors for aid for trade.

Aid for Trade - ODA

The value of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2024 for trade commitments and disbursements was €36.7 million, 2% of the total  ODA budget of €2.35 billion, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.  See Table 7.3.

€36.7 million

In 2024, ODA aid for trade commitments and disbursements was €36.7 million

SDG 8.b.1 Existence of a Developed and Operationalized National Strategy for Youth Employment, as a Distinct Strategy or as Part of a National Employment Strategy

SDG 8.b.1 Existence of a developed and operationalized national strategy for youth employment, as a distinct strategy or as part of a national employment strategy, information is provided by the Department of Social Protection.

Definition: In the UN SDG metadata repository the SDG 8.b.1 metadata document states that the proposed methodology draws on global policy instruments, notably: Resolution on The youth employment crisis: A call for action^₁, adopted at the 101st session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in June 2012. In calling for vigorous, collective action to address an aggravated youth employment crisis, this resolution advocates for a multi-pronged approach with policy measures that are context-specific and integrated, entailing strategies which bring together in a coherent manner a variety of instruments to increase the demand, enhance the supply and improve matching in youth labour markets.

Pathways to Work

Ireland’s efforts to support the youth population into employment are collected in Pathways to Work 2021-2025, the national employment services strategy, in which young people are identified as a priority cohort.

The strategy contains 5 strands of action:

1. Working for Jobseekers: Helping jobseekers prepare for and find employment as quickly as possible.
2. Working for Employers: Making it easy for employers to recruit workers and to encourage recruitment of unemployed jobseekers, including young people.
3. Working for Work: Ensuring that the welfare system supports and makes it easy for people to make the move into employment.
4. Working for All – Leaving No one Behind: Extending targeted employment supports to groups facing additional challenges accessing work such as people with disabilities, lone parents and minority groups, including Travellers.
5. Working with Evidence: Delivering services and supports that are shown to work.

Commitments collected in section 4 of Pathways to Work, “Working for All - Leaving No one Behind”, fulfil Irelands obligations under the Reinforced Youth Guarantee, a pledge by the Member States of the European Union to provide a good quality offer of employment, education, or training to those under the age of 30 within 4 months of becoming unemployed.

These commitments include:

• Delivering a more intensive model of engagement with young people profiled as being at risk of long-term unemployment, with the frequency of engagement with a case officer increasing from once a month to once a fortnight in respect of young people profiled as being at risk of long-term unemployment.
• Launching the updated Employment and Youth Engagement Charter (EYEC), a call-to-action for employers to commit to using Government employer incentives and supports and to recruit young jobseekers and other priority customers.
• Making it easier for young jobseekers to access employment supports such as the JobsPlus recruitment subsidy and Work Placement Experience Programme.

In line with a commitment in Pathways, the Labour Market Advisory Council undertook a formal Mid-Term Review of the Strategy in 2023, which was informed by an analysis of labour market trends, a public consultation process and engagement with relevant government departments and agencies.

On foot of the review, an updated strategy of commitments and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to be delivered to end 2025 was published, reflecting the advice and recommendations of the council.

The updated strategy more closely integrated the Reinforced Youth Guarantee. The aim of the Reinforced Youth Guarantee, to provide a quality offer within 4 months to those under 30 was integrated as a new key performance indicator, while another new performance indicator aims to achieve and maintain, on average over a four-quarter period, a ratio in the unemployment rate of 2.5:1 for those aged under 25 and those aged 25 and over.

The successor Pathways to Work strategy for the period 2026-2030 is currently in development, informed by a robust public consultation process, engagement with the community and voluntary sectors, and an analysis of labour market research, trends, and international best practice.

Pathways to Work 2026-2030 will continue the work of the previous strategy in supporting youth employment by setting relevant, ambitious targets, with a strong evidence base, to provide further education, training, and employment opportunities, including to those facing additional challenges to accessing the labour market.