Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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80. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the budget allocation within her Department for implementation of the National Social Enterprise Policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39645/24]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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In July 2024, the second National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland, ‘Trading for Impact 2024 - 2027’, was launched. Building upon the foundation laid by the first Social Enterprise policy, it puts forward a vision designed to help cultivate and sustain strong, impactful social enterprises in Ireland.

To support the delivery of this policy, there is a current budget in 2024 of €337,000 to implement the 57 policy actions of ‘Trading for Impact’, across the five objectives of the new policy.

This budget supports the delivery of actions, such as the hosting of a National Social Enterprise Conference, delivery of programmes to improve awareness of social enterprise with young people, commissioning research for the benefit of the social enterprise sector, as well as capacity building aimed at improving capabilities of social enterprises.

Additionally, my Department manages the ‘Social Enterprise Measure’ of the Dormant Accounts Fund. This year the €2million funding is being used for the ‘Growing Social Enterprise Scheme’, which will provide capital supports of up to €100,000 to social enterprises. My Department also provides a Dormant Accounts funded ‘Hybrid Social Lending Scheme’ of €890,000 that provides a blend of a re-payable loan, a grant and capacity building training to social enterprises.

Social enterprises also receive funding under the Community Services Programme, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme and LEADER. My Department also currently provides €5.5million annually to Rethink Ireland in matched Government funding for social innovation projects, including social enterprises.

Finally, funding of €14.5million is now available under newly established Social Innovation measures, under the European Social Fund Plus, aimed at enhancing capacity within organisations involved in social innovation and social enterprise.