Construction start-ups rise 18% as Ireland records strongest year for new firms in 15 years
CRIFVision-Net data shows housing and infrastructure demand driving new company formation, while financial pressure mounts on established businesses
19 January 2026 | 📧 editor@breakingground.news
Ireland recorded its strongest year for start-up formation in 15 years in 2025, with construction among the fastest-growing sectors, according to new data from CRIFVision-Net. A total of 26,500 new companies were formed last year, an 11% increase on 2024 and the highest annual figure since 2010.
Construction start-ups rose by 18% year on year, reflecting sustained demand for housing delivery and infrastructure investment. The sector followed agriculture, which recorded a 38% increase in new firms, and IT, up 29%. Wholesale and retail start-ups increased by 9%, while hospitality grew by 5%.
The data shows that while Dublin accounted for just over 40% of all new companies, with 11,450 start-ups, growth was recorded across the country. Cork added 2,552 new firms during the year, followed by Galway with 1,145, Kildare with 1,124 and Meath with 1,018.
CRIFVision-Net said the trend points to a strong appetite for indigenous enterprise, despite record-low unemployment, and reflects a strategic shift away from reliance on multinational investment amid geopolitical uncertainty, global trade volatility and tariff concerns.
Christine Cullen, managing director of CRIFVision-Net, said the figures demonstrate “remarkable resilience and entrepreneurial ambition across Ireland”, but warned that the data also highlights growing financial stress among established businesses.
Alongside strong start-up formation, the analysis shows a sharp rise in commercial judgments in 2025. A total of 1,808 judgments were recorded against companies during the year, with a combined value of €47.2 million. This represents a 29% increase in cases and a 67% jump in value compared to 2024.
CRIFVision-Net said the rise indicates that more businesses are struggling to meet payment commitments, increasingly forcing creditors to pursue legal action. The average age of insolvent firms was 11 years, suggesting that long-established companies, rather than new start-ups, are under the greatest pressure from rising costs, higher interest rates and tighter access to credit.
Ms Cullen said the data points to a widening gap between entrepreneurial activity and financial resilience. She warned that without targeted supports, continued cost inflation and constrained credit conditions risk undermining the sustainability of recent start-up momentum, particularly across construction and other cost-intensive sectors.
The findings align with recent forecasts from professional services firms, which expect corporate insolvencies to rise further in 2026 as additional business costs, including pension auto-enrolment and minimum wage increases, come into effect.
