Pauline Tully (Sinn Fein)

The Trading for Impact policy recognises the huge contribution of social enterprises. These are businesses that put people and communities before profit. They create jobs, support the most marginalised and drive local development and climate action.The policy sets out welcome goals on awareness, sustainability, the green transition, engagement and impact measurement. The policy falls short, however, as there is no clear legal framework. It leaves social enterprises in a grey zone. There is no long-term funding model, just short-term grants that block actual growth. There are 57 actions but little guarantee of resources. For example, the policy recognises the work of the community services programme, which supports community-based organisations providing an annual co-funding contribution towards the cost of employing a manager, an administrative worker or a caretaker, with one of its core aims being to promote and encourage social enterprises to become self-sustainable. The community services programme is invaluable to those who can access it. However, there is a disparity in the allocation of the funding through this programme. I am very concerned that County Cavan has the second-lowest spend per head of population on community services programmes, as it only has four active CSP projects whereas neighbouring counties have many more. For example, Monaghan has 11, Leitrim has 17 and Roscommon has 19. Why is this happening? I am unclear about what the issue is but I hope that it could be addressed.

Funding for staff, available through the CSP, is crucial for the sustainable growth of any social enterprise but not all social enterprises meet the CSP's criteria. For example, there is The Cottage Market Cavan. It is a social enterprise that provides a supportive route to market for small-scale growers and food producers, crafters, artists and community groups. People can either attend one of its events or go online and order a local green box, which is full of produce of one's choosing from farmers and food makers in Cavan and the other Border counties. People can collect their green boxes in either Cavan town or Ballyconnell on a Friday. Its online farmers' market and seasonal events represent what is local to Cavan and surrounding areas.

The Cottage Market Cavan is committed to creating local futures and building a sustainable planet-friendly community but it does not meet the criteria for CSP funding for staff. In light of this, it has been directed towards the Tús and community employment, CE, schemes but they are either full or, because The Cottage Market Cavan does not have a permanent business location, their support cannot be availed of.

The Cottage Market Cavan is recognised as a fantastic organisation for the county. It is continually asked to run events. It works extensively with all the agencies in Cavan: Cavan County Local development, the local enterprise office, Cavan County Council, LEADER, etc. It is extremely challenging for this enterprise to continue without funds for staffing.

That is just one example of a social enterprise in Cavan and of the difficulties it faces. There are many others in similar situations that fall short of various criteria within the various schemes. Enterprises like these need staffing supports in the first three to five years in order to be able to survive and become sustainable into the future. Sources of funding for social enterprises need to be more flexible so that they can respond to the specific needs of each individual social enterprise. Otherwise, we run the risk of losing them from our communities and that would be a significant loss.

In conclusion, I welcome the recognition of social enterprises but words are not enough. Communities need real delivery and proper investment. They need legislation that values social enterprises central to tackling inequality, building rural and regional economies and driving the green transition. Social enterprises already lead the way from childcare to recycling, from housing to renewable energy, but what they need now is certainty, support and respect. Sinn Féin will continue to press for stronger supports so that social enterprises can thrive and deliver for all our communities. While I welcome the policy, it needs to be much more specific in what resources it offers to social enterprises in our communities.