The Department does not fund any social enterprises directly but that the Health Act 2004 does allow the HSE to contract services from voluntary providers via service level agreements under Section 38 and Section 39 of the Act. Each year in an appendix to their financial statements the HSE details the funding allocated to outside agencies. I have detailed below the allocations for the years 2018 to 2020 and although the numbers include an element of for-profit organisations it is primarily directed to voluntary bodies, including both national and local Section 38 and Section 39 providers.
As the 2021 financial statements are not due to be published until May 2022, and the 2022 allocation is a function of the 2022 national service plan which is underway but still to be finalised, I am referring this PQ to the HSE for further comment.
Total Revenue and Capital Grants to Outside Agencies
2018 €4,463,755,000
2019 €5,024,306,000
2020 €5,802,552,000
Link to the HSE Annual Reports and Financial Statements
www.hse.ie/eng/services/publications/corporate/annualrpts.html