Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 October 2019
242. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to budget 2020 the amount of dormant accounts funding allocated to social enterprises in 2020 for this funding stream. [42458/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraSupport for social enterprises under the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF) is primarily provided through the Social Enterprise Measure of the annual DAF Action Plan. A sum of €2 million is available in 2019 under this Measure and this funding will be fully utilised this year.
My Department also provides funding from a separate measure under the DAF Action Plan, which supports the Social Enterprise Development Fund established by Social Innovation Fund Ireland (SIFI). My Department contributed €800,000 to this three-year initiative in 2018, with SIFI raising match funding from philanthropic donations, to create a €1.6 million fund.
My Department's Dormant Accounts allocation for social enterprises for 2020 will be included in the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan for 2020, which is expected to be published shortly. I will be seeking to ensure that funding for the Social Enterprise Measure is maintained at current levels.
On 18 July last, I launched Ireland's first ever National Social Enterprise Policy. This Policy will help to create an enabling environment for social enterprise to grow and contribute to Ireland’s social and economic progress.
A new allocation of €300,000 has been provided as part of Budget 2020 for the development and implementation of the Social Enterprise Policy and the forthcoming Rural Development policy. This funding will support initiatives such as raising awareness of social enterprises and developing methodologies to measure the economic and social impact of social enterprises in Ireland.
In addition to funding from the DAF, my Department also supports social enterprises through a number of other programmes including SICAP, LEADER, and the Community Services Programme.
