Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2018
697. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an action (details supplied) under the Action Plan for Rural Development; the quarter and year in which the policy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37119/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo progress this initiative under the Action Plan for Rural Development, my Department established a research partnership with the Social Finance Foundation in the second half of 2017. This partnership was for purpose of carrying out targeted research and stakeholder engagement with the social enterprise sector to inform the development of the National Policy on Social Enterprise.
A Steering Group, chaired by my Department, was established to oversee the conduct of the research. This Group comprised representatives of the social enterprise sector, social enterprise practitioners and relevant Government Departments. As part of the research work, a comprehensive stakeholder consultation process took place involving regional workshops and an online survey. Over 100 people representing a diverse range of organisations attended the workshops and 376 submissions were received as part of the online consultation.
The research work has been completed, and the outputs of this research, along with the consultative aspect of the work and other recent developments in relation to the sector, are informing the drafting of the policy. It is now planned to publish a draft Social Enterprise Policy in Q4 2018 for public consultation.
The responses to the public consultation process will be considered and the policy will be refined, as required. This process will ensure that all stakeholders can actively engage with the policy development process and inform the final policy.
I would therefore expect the final policy to be published in early 2019. While this timeframe is longer than originally envisaged, I am satisfied that the additional level of consultation will ensure that a robust policy is developed which has the support and engagement of the social enterprise sector and other stakeholders.
