Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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40. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason that in a recent report (details supplied) on countries with the best conditions for social enterprise Ireland ranks 43rd out of the 44 countries surveyed; and the initiatives she plans to implement to improve these conditions. [33012/16]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The report referred to by the Deputy outlines the results of a poll which was largely based on questions regarding the environment for social enterprises that are following a business model.

The social enterprise sector in Ireland covers a wide spectrum of activities, which are delivered by a range of organisations, from local community groups fully supported by the State to companies operating on a commercial basis for a social return. A 2013 report by Forfás indicated that there were over 1,400 social enterprises in Ireland in 2009. However, 63% of these had no traded income, while income from traded activities made up only 17% of the total income of the remaining enterprises.

A number of Government Departments currently engage with the social enterprise sector and provide supports through a range of programmes and schemes. These include

- the Community Services Programme managed by Pobal for the Department of Social Protection;

- the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme operated by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government;

- Community Employment schemes;

- the Wage Subsidy Scheme for the employment of people with disabilities;

- LEADER funding; and

- Dormant Accounts funding.

Some social enterprises also benefit from the services provided by the Local Employment Offices.

In order to develop a more co-ordinated approach to the social enterprise sector in Ireland and to maximise its potential, I intend todevelop a National Policy on Social Enterprise in 2017.