€1 million fund will support over 100 Social Enterprises throughout the country
Mr Michael Ring TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development, today (Tuesday, 23 Octover) announced a €1 million Small Capital Grants Scheme for social enterprises throughout Ireland.
The scheme, which is funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund, will provide grants of between €2,000 and €15,000 for equipment, repairs or refurbishments which will enable social enterprises to improve their service. The scheme is an initiative under the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 2018-2022, which the Minister published in July, and will be administered through the Local Development Companies.
Announcing the scheme, Minister Ring said:
“One of the main objectives of the National Social Enterprise Policy, which I launched in July, is to grow and strengthen social enterprises. The new small capital grants scheme which I am announcing today will support over 100 social enterprises through funding of €1 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund. It will provide grants of between €2,000 and €15,000 to enable social enterprises to make small equipment purchases, or to carry out refurbishments to their premises to help them to improve their service delivery.
“The scheme will be of particular interest to smaller or start-up social enterprises which do not necessarily have the capacity to compete for larger grants.”
The Minister continued:
“I am pleased that the Local Development Companies have agreed to partner with my Department to deliver this scheme. The Local Development Companies provide grassroots support to social enterprises all around the country and are well placed to administer the fund.
“Today’s announcement follows on from a call for proposals for Training and Mentoring of social enterprises which I launched recently, and is another important step in the implementation of the National Social Enterprise Policy.
“My Department will continue to work closely with all stakeholders in the delivery of all of the commitments in the Policy over its life span, up to 2022.”
Full details of the Small Capital Grants Scheme for Social Enterprises, including Applications Forms and Guidelines, as well as a list of Local Development Companies and their contact details, are available on the Department’s website, www.gov.ie/drcd.
