Ireland has named its first-ever financial literacy ambassadors in a move designed to help people make smarter money decisions in everyday life. Announced via gov.ie, the initiative places financial education higher on the national agenda as the Department of Finance prepares for major public awareness work around saving, budgeting and investing.
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris has appointed Gráinne Griffin and Denis Carrigan to the new roles. Working under the National Financial Literacy Strategy led by the Department of Finance, the pair will help communicate practical guidance to the public and support broader efforts to improve financial confidence across Ireland.
Financial literacy ambassadors to support gov.ie strategy goals
The new appointments are intended to make financial literacy more accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. According to the Department of Finance, the ambassadors will promote trusted information and encourage citizens to take control of their finances, whether that means handling day-to-day expenses, preparing for major life events or planning longer-term investments.
The announcement also connects to the 2025 Annual Review and Action Plan 2026–2027 of the National Financial Literacy Strategy. A key area of focus is retail investment education, especially ahead of the planned rollout of a new Investment Account in 2027.
- Support public understanding of budgeting, saving and investing
- Promote the National Financial Literacy Strategy
- Engage with the EU network of financial literacy ambassadors
- Help share trusted, practical financial information across Ireland
Who are Ireland’s new financial literacy ambassadors?
Gráinne Griffin
Gráinne Griffin is Director of Financial Education at the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), a body already closely associated with consumer information and money guidance in Ireland. She is also part of the steering group for Ireland’s Financial Literacy Strategy and represents the country within the OECD’s international financial education network. Her previous work with the Citizens Information Board adds further experience in public-facing advice and advocacy.
Denis Carrigan
Denis Carrigan is President of the Association of Teachers of Home Economics and teaches Economics and Home Economics at St. Laserian’s Special School in County Carlow. He has been active in promoting financial literacy among children and young people and has supported teacher learning initiatives across the Carlow-Kilkenny region. His work around Global Money Week has also linked education with practical money skills.
Why this gov.ie announcement matters for Irish households
This gov.ie announcement reflects a wider push across Finance, Education and consumer protection bodies to strengthen financial resilience. It comes at a time when households are thinking more carefully about inflation, personal savings, long-term planning and access to clear information from trusted state-backed sources such as the CCPC, Citizens Information Board and Department of Finance.
Minister of State Robert Troy said financial literacy is one of the most important life skills people can develop, while Minister of State Marian Harkin highlighted the importance of building these capabilities across further and higher education. That means the initiative is not just about consumers today, but also students and future workers preparing for independent life.
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What happens next?
The ambassadors are expected to work closely with the Department of Finance and across the wider public service landscape, including stakeholders linked to Further and Higher Education, Social Protection and consumer awareness. Their role will also support Ireland’s contribution to the EU Financial Literacy Strategy, which encourages every member state to appoint national ambassadors.
In practical terms, the success of the programme will depend on whether people feel more confident making decisions about spending, saving and investing. If that happens, this gov.ie initiative could become an important milestone in how Ireland approaches financial wellbeing.
The takeaway: the appointment of these two financial literacy ambassadors signals a more visible and coordinated national effort to improve money skills in Ireland. With support from gov.ie, the Department of Finance and the CCPC, the goal is clear: give people the knowledge and confidence to make informed financial choices.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
