Surge in Contactless Payments: Ireland Embraces a Cashless Future
Over the first half of the year, Irish consumers have made a resounding shift towards digital transactions, with more than 1.2 billion payments amounting to €50 billion being conducted via Irish cards, according to the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI). This growth encompasses both physical card use and the burgeoning realm of digital payments.
Contactless Payments on the Rise
An impressive figure of 840 million transactions were completed through mobile wallets and contactless cards, collectively valued at nearly €16 billion. Compared to the first half of 2025, both the number and value of contactless payments increased by 7.3% and 12.9%, respectively.
Physical point of sale transactions represented a significant portion of this growth, with three out of every four card payments, totalling nearly 930 million, occurring in retail outlets. This marks a 5.4% year-on-year increase.
The Shift to Mobile Wallets
Mobile wallets have taken a leading role in the contactless payment sector, accounting for 64.2% of such transactions. The average mobile wallet transaction was approximately €20.96, overshadowing the €15.36 average for contactless card payments. Online card purchases averaged higher at €78.49.
“Mobile wallets have clearly overtaken physical cards in popularity,” noted BPFI head of payments, Gillian Byrne. “Contactless payments are now the norm for everyday, smaller-value spending.”
Future Developments in Public Transport
The trend towards cashless transactions is poised to gain further momentum with the introduction of contactless payment systems on public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has planned the rollout of these systems across the Greater Dublin Area starting in 2028, simplifying payments for millions of commuters. Contactless systems are already being deployed on TFI Local Link services.
Regional Variations in Contactless Use
Dublin leads in contactless payments, with an average of 419 transactions per person, and 279 mobile wallet transactions. Conversely, Roscommon ranks lowest with 145 contactless and 73 mobile wallet transactions per capita.
Other areas show varied adoption rates: Cork reported 306 contactless and 194 mobile wallet transactions per capita; Limerick recorded 324 and 203, respectively; while Kerry tallied 242 and 143.
Public Transport Potential
The BPFI estimates that the adoption of contactless systems across public transport could result in an additional 25 million contactless payments within the first year. In 2025 alone, Leap card top-ups totalled €294 million, demonstrating the integration of digital payments into everyday travel.
This ongoing shift towards digital and contactless payments reveals a clear trajectory for Ireland’s payment landscape, with consumers and industries alike poised to embrace the efficiencies and conveniences that a cashless economy offers.
For more information, visit the original article by irishexaminer.com.
