Microfinance Ireland Microenterprise Loan Fund Scheme Report Q1 2026 (Microfinance Ireland)

Summary

• Since its start, Microfinance Ireland has received 13,800 applications and approved loans worth €108.3M, an approval rate of 46%.p.2
• 5,584 loans worth €96.3M have been drawn, with an average loan size of €17.3K.p.2
• The fund provides loans of €2,000 up to €50,000 to microenterprises with less than 10 employees who cannot obtain funding through traditional sources.p.2
• In Q1 2026 the fund received 438 applications and approved €3.653M of loans, with an approval rate of 42%.p.3
• 59% of Q1 2026 approvals went to start-ups, and the average loan size was €24.7K.p.3
• 24% of loans went to Dublin and 76% to the rest of Ireland.p.3

Key insights

1. The fund has supported 12,354 net jobs in 6253 micro-enterprises.p.2
2. 82% of approvals were granted to businesses employing 3 people or fewer.p.2
3. Applications from female business owners accounted for over 30% of all applications in the year to date.p.5
4. A webinar for International Women's Day drew 245 registrations and 103 attendees, the highest attendance to date.p.4
5. There have been 15 appeals in 2026 and 3 of these cases have been approved on appeal.p.16
6. During 2026, 8 businesses of the fund's borrowers have failed.p.16