Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2022
782. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the identity of the awardee of a contract to design and implement a baseline study and data collection exercise into the social enterprise sector in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12487/22]
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Social Enterprises are businesses for social good which operate across a wide range of sectors, from social services to the circular economy. They are businesses which trade on an ongoing basis, but any profits are reinvested to support the core social or environmental purpose. The National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland (2019 – 2022) aims to develop social enterprises both in terms of scale and impact.
One of the most important priorities under the National Social Enterprise Policy 2019 – 2022 is the undertaking of the first national data collection exercise of social enterprise in Ireland.
This exercise aims to ascertain, inter alia, the number of social enterprises in Ireland, their regional spread, their primary sectors of activity, the nature and levels of staffing, and approximate traded income levels. The engagement of all stakeholders both in the design of the data collection exercise and its implementation is key to the success of the exercise.
On 29 October 2021 a Request for Tender was launched on eTenders for proposals to ‘design and implement a baseline data collection exercise regarding the social enterprise sector in Ireland’. By the closing date on 26 January 2022 my Department had received four bids. Following a thorough and detailed evaluation process, my Department is now in the final stages of the tendering process, and will imminently sign a contract with the most economically advantageous proposal, led by Amárach Research.
Amárach Research submitted their bid in partnership with Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland (SERI), and the Irish Local Development Network.
My Department is looking forward to working with Amárach Research and its partners on this project, with a final report expected by the end of 2022.
