Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 March 2018
279. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the implementation of the commitment in a Programme for Partnership Government to raise a minimum of €50 million through Social Innovation Fund Ireland to provide growth capital to Ireland's best social projects and innovators and to target solutions to critical social issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13466/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial Innovation Fund Ireland (SIFI) works in partnership with Government to find and develop the best social innovations with the potential for transformative impact on critical social issues facing Ireland. The partnership is based on a 50:50 philantropic/government matched funding arrangement.
To date, approximately €6m has been raised under this funding model, with 7 programmes developed by SIFI, ranging from educational, community development and social enterprise schemes. A one year extension to the current contract was agreed with my Department in September 2017. In the meantime, my Department has been liasing with SIFI in preparing a new contract to give ongoing effect to the commitment in the Programme for Government.
