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  <xs:element id="iclr_DepreciationAmortizationAndOperatingLeaseRightofUseAssetAmortizationExpense" abstract="false" name="DepreciationAmortizationAndOperatingLeaseRightofUseAssetAmortizationExpense" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_ContractsReceivableGross" abstract="false" name="ContractsReceivableGross" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_AwardDateAllYearsExcluding2018Member" abstract="true" name="AwardDateAllYearsExcluding2018Member" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_CompensationRelatedCostsShareBasedPaymentsDisclosureTable" abstract="true" name="CompensationRelatedCostsShareBasedPaymentsDisclosureTable" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:hypercubeItem" type="xbrli:stringItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent" abstract="false" name="IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_LimitOfSharesIssuedOrToBeIssuedPursuantToOptionsGranted" abstract="false" name="LimitOfSharesIssuedOrToBeIssuedPursuantToOptionsGranted" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:sharesItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationRestrictedStockUnitsPerformanceStockUnitsAwardActivityTableTextBlock" abstract="false" name="ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationRestrictedStockUnitsPerformanceStockUnitsAwardActivityTableTextBlock" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:textBlockItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_EarlyTerminationOptionsReasonablyCertainToBeExercisedRightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability" abstract="false" name="EarlyTerminationOptionsReasonablyCertainToBeExercisedRightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferredSharesIssuedToShareholdersPerShareHeld" abstract="false" name="BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferredSharesIssuedToShareholdersPerShareHeld" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:sharesItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_ScheduleOfDepreciationAndAmortizationExpenseByGeographicalAreaTableTextBlock" abstract="false" name="ScheduleOfDepreciationAndAmortizationExpenseByGeographicalAreaTableTextBlock" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:textBlockItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_NonexecutiveDirectorMember" abstract="true" name="NonexecutiveDirectorMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_PRAHealthSciencesIncMember" abstract="true" name="PRAHealthSciencesIncMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_RestOfWorldMember" abstract="true" name="RestOfWorldMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent" abstract="false" name="BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue" abstract="false" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:perShareItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_Clients610Member" abstract="true" name="Clients610Member" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_ContractsReceivableNet" abstract="false" name="ContractsReceivableNet" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_IncreaseDecreaseInContractwithCustomerAssetGrossCurrentPercent" abstract="false" name="IncreaseDecreaseInContractwithCustomerAssetGrossCurrentPercent" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:percentItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_CompensationRelatedCostsShareBasedPaymentsDisclosureLineItems" abstract="true" name="CompensationRelatedCostsShareBasedPaymentsDisclosureLineItems" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_PaymentsForShareRepurchaseCosts" abstract="false" name="PaymentsForShareRepurchaseCosts" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredandLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentOperatingLeaseLiability" abstract="false" name="BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredandLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentOperatingLeaseLiability" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_AccruedInterestOnOperatingLeaseLiability" abstract="false" name="AccruedInterestOnOperatingLeaseLiability" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_BuybackProgramMember" abstract="true" name="BuybackProgramMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_ScheduleOfNonCashStockCompensationExpenseTableTextBlock" abstract="false" name="ScheduleOfNonCashStockCompensationExpenseTableTextBlock" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:textBlockItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="iclr_OtherUndenominatedCapitalMember" abstract="true" name="OtherUndenominatedCapitalMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
</xs:schema>
