John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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2060. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the agencies and organisations that received the social enterprise capital grant scheme for dispersal in 2021 in an area (details supplied); the way the grant was advertised locally; the number of applicants; the organisations to which funding was dispersed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1940/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In September 2021 I invited applications from social enterprises for funding under the Social Enterprise Capital Grants Scheme. This Dormant Accounts funded scheme is providing grants totalling €1m to social enterprises throughout Ireland to enable them to cover small capital expenditure such as minor repairs, upgrades or additional equipment to help them to deliver their services and achieve their social, environmental or economic objectives in a safe and effective manner.  

This scheme is being administered and delivered on behalf of my Department by the network of Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), with all applications made directly to the relevant LCDC in each local authority area.

My Department did not receive any applications directly under this scheme, and therefore similar to other LCDC administered schemes, does not have visibility of applications received by the LCDC. Each LCDC, including Dublin South County LCDC, provided my Department with a list of projects that they recommended for funding.

Officials from my Department have been in contact with the LCDC in Dublin South County who confirmed that responsibility for decision making for this scheme was delegated to the South Dublin County Local Enterprise Office with the South Dublin County Partnership as support, as they had the expertise in relation to local social enterprises. The scheme was advertised to the social enterprise groups linked to the South Dublin County Partnership and to the Local Enterprise Office.

Applications were received from eight organisations, and a list of seven of these were recommended for funding. The seven social enterprises that received funding are:

- ACE Enterprise Park

- Áras Chrónáin

- Belgard Community Centre

- Fettercairn Community and Youth Centre

- Knockmitten Youth and Community Centre

- Lucan  Disability Action Group

- ReCreate Ireland

To continue supporting the development of social enterprises, I hope to announce further capital supports for social enterprises later in the year in line with the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland.