National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland
2019 – 2022
The Department of Rural and Community Development has published the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland.
The Irish Social Enterprise Network have broadly welcomed the policy and are encouraging our network and members to take part in its’ implementation.
The Full Document
To download the full document, please click on the download icon.
DRCD Press Release
To view the Press Release from the Department of Rural and Community Development, you can read the press release here gov.ie article
Social Enterprises are businesses whose core objective is to achieve a social, societal or environmental impact. Like other businesses, social enterprises trade in goods or services on an ongoing basis. However, any surpluses they generate are re-invested into achieving a social impact.
The first National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 2019-2022 is focused on three key Objectives:
1. Building Awareness of Social Enterprise;
2. Growing and Strengthening Social Enterprise and
3. Achieving Better Policy Alignment.
The Policy sets out a series of 26 commitments on the part of Government across these three Objectives for the development of social enterprise over the period 2019-2022. These commitments will be delivered in partnership with social enterprise stakeholders. The objective of the Policy is to support social enterprise to grow in scale and impact.
There have been calls for such a policy for many years, and the publication of this Policy fulfils a commitment in the Action Plan for Rural Development and Future Jobs Ireland. Its publication represents a key milestone for social enterprises in Ireland.
The National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland is part of a suite of policy initiatives from the Department of Rural and Community Development to support those who work with communities and disadvantaged groups. Other initiatives include a new Strategy for the Community and Voluntary Sectors and a new National Volunteering Strategy, both of which will be published this year.
The Social Enterprise in Ireland Research Report carried out by the Department of Rural and Community Development and Social Finance Foundation informed the development of a National Social Enterprise Policy.
Irish Social Enterprise Network Responses and Input
The Irish Social Enterprise Network has had numerous inputs to the Department policy for the past number of years. You can check out some of our contributions here:
https://www.socent.ie/resources/social-enterprise-policy-2019-2022/
