20-05-2025
Government pledges increased support for social enterprises amid rising demand
An additional €2m invested in social enterprises this year needs to be increased in order to keep up with demand, a Government minister has said.
Minister for Rural and Community Development Dara Calleary said work is needed over the next four years to increase investment in the sector, but he is confident it can be done.
Mr Calleary made the comments as he announced an investment of almost €4m in 125 social enterprises across the country as part of the Growing Social Enterprise Scheme announced last year.
"In recognition of the huge demand for this scheme, we have allocated an additional €2m this year but there are still disappointed people and we are very much aware of that," Mr Calleary said.
"We will continue to work to increase investment in this sector over the course of the next four years."
Any ramping up of investment will be subject to discussion with the department of public expenditure but the minister, Jack Chambers, understands the value of the work of social enterprises.
"I am pretty sure I'm pushing an open door there with Minister Chambers," said Mr Calleary.
The funding announcement was made at FoodCloud in Tallaght which is to receive €97,000 to purchase refrigerated vehicles to safely deliver food to community and voluntary organisations.
Mr Calleary said FoodCloud is an example of social enterprise at its best, creating a solution to tackle the major issues of food waste and food poverty while expanding its reach globally.
Social enterprises bridge the gap between public and private services and can have a "transformational impact", said CEO and founder of Sensational Kids, Karen Leigh.
Speaking at the event, Ms Leigh spoke of two parents she encountered at an event last year, both of whom had children who had additional needs and were non-verbal.
The first child was able to access services at Sensational Kids at a young age and is now fully verbal and set to start in a mainstream secondary school "completely independent".
The second, an 'almost identical' child, was unable to access services, remains non-verbal, and his mother is fighting for a secondary school place for him.
"He had gotten four speech and language therapy sessions over the course of his life from the HSE and she had recently been sent on a webinar," Ms Leigh said.
"And that is the difference."
This, Ms Leigh said, demonstrates the power of social enterprise and the transformational difference that can be made when organisations are properly funded and given the freedom to deliver services.
One of the challenges facing social enterprises is financial stability as they grow and there is a continuous need for ongoing funding, Ms Leigh said.
The funding announced on Tuesday, which is supported by the Dormant Accounts Fund, will see 83 enterprises receive funding up to €15,000 and a further 42 will get funding of between €15,000 and €100,000.
Almost €178,000 will go to social enterprises in Cork including €78,000 for creative hub Benchspace and €14,000 for Mitchelstown Community Centre.
The Dormant Accounts Fund is based on monies in bank accounts that have not been active in over 15 years.
Read More
Deis plan to emphasise retention of students up to Leaving Cert and beyond
