Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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413. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a company (details supplied) that is in receipt of funding under the social enterprise small capital grants scheme 2021 will receive its designated funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13636/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Social Enterprises are businesses for social good which operate across a wide range of sectors, from social services to the circular economy. They are businesses which trade on an ongoing basis, but any profits are reinvested to support the core social or environmental purpose. The National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland (2019 – 2022) aims to develop social enterprises both in terms of scale and impact.

The Dormant Accounts Funded Social Enterprise Capital Grants Pilot Scheme is one of a number of schemes developed by my Department in 2021 that are funding social enterprises directly, and it supports one of the key policy commitments in the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland – “Growing and Strengthening Social Enterprise”.

Grants under the scheme will enable social enterprises 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.

The Social Enterprise Capital Grants Scheme is being administered on behalf of my Department by the network of 31 Local Community Development Committee’s (LCDCs) nationwide.

My officials have been in contact with the LCDC in South Dublin that is administering the grant of €15,000 to ACE Enterprise Park.  I understand that,all the Social Enterprise Capital Grants are currently being processed by the LCDC and payments under the scheme are expected to be made by the end of March 2022. I also understand that the LCDC will be in touch with each of the awardees under the scheme in the coming days to update them on their progress.