Press release
Minister Ring launches Public Consultation on the National Social Enterprise Policy
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring today announced the publication of a draft National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland for public consultation, seeking the views of stakeholders and the public to inform the policy.
The Draft National Social Enterprise Policy is part of a suite of policy initiatives which will complement the Strategy to Support the Community and Voluntary Sectors in Ireland, and the forthcoming National Volunteering Strategy, which are also being developed by the department.
Launching the public consultation today, Minister Ring said:
“Social enterprises make a valuable contribution to the economic and social progress of Ireland through the creation of jobs and the delivery of a range of goods and services in areas such as homecare, employment activation, hospitality, catering, retail, environmental services, and social housing to name but a few.”
The Minister continued:
“However, social enterprises in Ireland have not yet reached their full potential for a number of reasons, including the absence of a clear national policy framework to support their development. A lack of understanding of what social enterprises are, and what they do, has also contributed to a general lack of awareness of social enterprise in Ireland which has made the collection of reliable data on their social and economic impact difficult. ”
The proposed draft policy is focused on three Objectives:
Responses will inform the preparation of the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland.
The closing date for submissions is Tuesday 14 May 2019.
A social enterprise is an enterprise whose objective is to achieve a social impact rather than making a profit for its owners or shareholders.
The government has given a commitment to developing and publishing a national policy on social enterprise (see Action Plan for Rural Development – Action 99). The development of this policy, the first of its kind in Ireland, is being led by the Department of Rural and Community Development and is underpinned by research, workshops and consultations with many stakeholders over a period of 18 months.
The department is now publishing a draft National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland for public consultation.
The consultation period will run from 23 April until 14 May 2019.
The recommended means of response is by email to: SEConsultation@drcd.gov.ie
Alternatively, responses can be posted to:
Please include full contact details and the name of the organisation or entity you are responding on behalf of, if relevant.
Submissions should be as concise as possible but in any event should not exceed 10 pages. Any submissions received after the closing date of 14 May 2019 may not be considered.
Responses will inform the preparation of the National Policy on Social Enterprise.
Any submissions received may be published on the department’s website.