Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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605. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of dormant accounts funding allocated to social enterprises over the 2016 to 2019 period in tabular form; and if a provision will be made in budget 2020 for this funding stream. [37322/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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On 18 July 2019, I launched the first ever National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland. The Policy will help to create an enabling environment for social enterprise to grow and contribute to Ireland’s social and economic progress.

Support for social enterprises under the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF) is primarily provided through the Social Enterprise Measure of the DAF Action Plan.  Details of the amounts allocated under this Measure since 2016 are provided on the table below.

Dormant Accounts Social Enterprise Measure - funding 2016-2019

On 2 September, I announced €800,000 in funding for the provision of training and mentoring for social enterprises throughout Ireland which will be provided from the 2019 DAF allocation for the Social Enterprise Measure.  This funding will support one of the key policy commitments in the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland.  The closing date for this pilot scheme, which is managed by Pobal on behalf of my Department, is 30 September 2019.

I intend to make a further announcement shortly regarding the allocation of the balance of funding available this year under the Social Enterprise Measure.

My Department also provides match funding from a separate measure under the DAF Action Plan, which supports the 2018-2020 Social Enterprise Development Fund established by Social Innovation Fund Ireland. My Department contributed €800,000 to this three year initiative in 2018, representing 50% of the €1.6 million fund.

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.

My Department's allocation for social enterprises for 2020 will be considered as part of the forthcoming Estimates process.