Imelda Goldsboro (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am delighted, as the spokesperson for Fianna Fáil, to contribute to today’s statements on the national social enterprise policy. The comprehensive policy document sets out five key objectives, supported by 57 targeted actions, each designed to unlock the full potential of social enterprise right across Ireland. The goal is to support and grow social businesses so they can make a difference in our communities, helping people, protecting the environment and boosting the local economy.

Social enterprise is about impact, not profit. It is about harnessing innovation and community spirit to address social and environmental challenges. Across the country, we see the enterprises stepping up to support the long-term unemployed, people with disabilities, the Traveller community, other vulnerable people, those facing food poverty, and areas dealing with environmental degradation.

In the south of my county, Tipperary, there are inspiring examples of this work in action. South Tipperary Development Company, STDC, plays a pivotal role in bringing the national social enterprise policy to life at local level. It delivers Government-funded programmes such as LEADER and Healthy Ireland and helps communities access grants, training and expert advice. By supporting community-led businesses that trade for social good, STDC helps to create jobs, tackle disadvantage and protect the environment right across south Tipperary. Its work shows how social enterprise can deliver a real impact, boosting local economies while improving lives and, most important, strengthening communities.

Men’s Shed Mullinahone is another example. It shows how the grassroots initiatives can build connection and purpose. It provides a welcoming space where men can connect, share experience, build skills and support one another. Most important, this helps to combat isolation and improving well-being. Through hands-on projects and local initiatives, the shed contributes to the wider community while fostering a sense of purpose and belonging among its members.

The LEADER programme has been a cornerstone of rural regeneration in Ireland, and its role in supporting community and social enterprise is nothing short of transformative. By providing targeted funding and guidance to community-led initiatives, LEADER empowers local groups to identify their own needs and craft tailored solutions. Whether it is helping a community café to get off the ground, supporting a recycling hub to tackle waste and unemployment or enabling a youth programme to expand its reach, LEADER turns grassroots ideas into impactful realities.

In constituencies like Tipperary South, LEADER helps to revitalise villages, create jobs and foster social inclusion, proving that when communities are given the tools to lead, they build futures worth investing in. As Fianna Fáil spokesperson on social enterprise, I see at first hand how these initiatives offer meaningful opportunities for employment, training and education. They create good-quality jobs while also contributing to climate action and environmental sustainability.

Social enterprises such as FoodCloud, which redistributes surplus food from supermarkets to those in need, exemplify the power of community-led solutions. They are quite supportive of community cafés employing those overcoming addiction or living with disabilities, recycling hubs tackling both waste and unemployment, and youth programmes restoring hope where it has been lost.

Community cafés are one of the most tangible expressions of social enterprise in action. We have 27 in Ireland, with many more popping up. These spaces do more than serve tea and coffee; they give purpose to so many in society. Staffed by individuals living with disabilities or re-entering the workforce after long-term unemployment, they offer dignity through employment and connection through service. They become hubs of inclusion where people gather not just to eat but also to belong. In towns and villages across Ireland, including in south Tipperary, they are quietly transforming lives one cup at a time.

In rural areas, social enterprises are the heartbeat of regeneration. They breathe life into towns and villages, offering services that did not exist before and fostering a sense of belonging and purpose. I encourage the House to consider closely regeneration communities in Tipperary South and across the country. Are we doing enough to support and scale their efforts?

The programme for Government rightly recognises the vital role of social enterprise. Through initiatives like the LEADER programme and responses to challenges such as Storm Éowyn, we are committed to empowering these organisations to thrive. This year, the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, launched a number of social enterprise supports, especially through the Dormant Accounts Fund, with an investment of €4 million to help organisations grow and thrive. Grants will support vital upgrades such as building improvements, new equipment, vehicles and other resources that allow the enterprises to expand their services and deepen their impact on communities right across Ireland.

The call for a central website dedicated to social enterprise supports and an annual calendar of funding opportunities through the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht addresses two long-standing challenges: visibility and predictability. This kind of infrastructure would not only streamline access but also signal that the Government was serious about backing social enterprises as key drivers of inclusive and sustainable growth.

Social enterprises in Ireland make a significant impact where it matters most: supporting families through affordable childcare, strengthening communities with local services and infrastructure, delivering vital health and social care, and celebrating our culture through arts, heritage and creative industries. Let us continue to champion social enterprise, not just as a policy priority but also as a movement that reflects the best of who we are: resilient, compassionate and community driven.