Dublin: New figures from the Central Bank of Ireland show that self-employed individuals account for only a small share of Ireland’s mortgage market, highlighting ongoing barriers to home financing for this group.
According to the data, less than 4% of mortgages issued to first-time buyers were granted to self-employed applicants. In contrast, salaried employees continue to dominate the market, making up 96.3% of first-time buyers in 2025—slightly down from 96.9% the previous year.
Industry representatives suggest the figures may also include contract workers within the salaried category. However, the disparity remains significant for those working independently.
A spokesperson for the Irish Banking and Payments Federation noted that the participation of self-employed borrowers is somewhat higher among second-time buyers. In 2025, they accounted for 8.1% of approved loans in this segment, up from 7.3% in 2024.
Irish Samachar English News