Jerry Buttimer
Cork South-Central · Fine Gael · Ireland
“Its priority is to provide scheduled public transport services on the TFI network. It works with event organisers, operators, local authorities and An Garda Síochána to provide additional transport supports where it is possible to do so.”
“I commit to relaying the points the Senator has made on the floor of the House, and has conveyed to me in private, to the Department of Transport. To be fair to the Senator, it was not only this morning that he has articulated this. The travelling supporters of Kerry and Mayo deserve additional transport.”
“I understand from the company that the Expressway team is currently examining whether additional services on route 22 will be added on the morning of Sunday, 26 July.”
“In this case, for Kerry and Mayo, as the Senator rightly said, it will see a high demand for scheduled and additional services. The Senator has outlined the volume of tickets sales. This is the busiest time for scheduled intercity services anyway, given that it is peak summer time, and that is a priority.”
“I understand from speaking to Irish Rail that it hopes to be in a position to confirm the number of additional services later this week - I am hoping this will be today or tomorrow - and it will advise customers as soon as these services are available to book.”
“The Senator mentioned Sneem and Ventry. He and I will remember our great friends, the late, great John Egan and Paudie O'Shea, as well as the Senator's brother Tim. I get emotional because they were great GAA people. Cork and Kerry have the best supporters of the GAA.”
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“Officials at my Department have been engaging with Pobal, representative groups and the relevant telecommuications operator on the potential impacts of the replacement of copper infrastructure and plans to phase out the use of remaining legacy devices. Our Department is currently reviewing all aspects of the seniors alert scheme, including the technology and services available. I hope we will be in a position to launch a new iteration of the scheme some time next year. I thank the Deputy for this important question.”
“With regard to the issue of copper lines, when a person has been approved for an alarm under the scheme, a technician will install the correct device depending on the connectivity options at the person’s home. Currently, devices provided under the scheme connect to monitoring services via landlines, including copper, or via broadband and mobile networks. I understand that a small number of seniors alert scheme devices still operate over copper telephone lines at premises where no other option presents itself or where the participant has not requested a replacement. I am assured that where viable, a broadband or mobile device will always be recommended to participants over the older landline devices.”
“I thank the Deputy for her question and her ongoing advocacy, particularly post Storm Éowyn. The Department is responsible for the seniors alert scheme, which encourages community support for older people through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the scheme for the purchase by a registered community based-organisation of a personal alarm or pendant. While the provision of the monitored alarm under the scheme is vital, so too is the engagement between the local community groups that sign people up to the scheme and the connections made between local people and local support structures. Since the scheme was launched in 2015, 153,023 participants have been approved for the alarms, including over 18,200 in 2024.”
“He is a man of fairness, huge compassion and empathy. He stands up for people every single day. I challenge Members across the Chamber. Simon Harris stands up and represents people. He is not hollow or empty. He is a man of empathy and action. He is a man I am proud to support today. I am confident in this man. Deputy O'Flynn may smirk at me, but when you come into government it is about taking responsibility and making decisions that require leadership and in Simon Harris, we have that leader.”
“Ar an gcéad dul síos, tá gach muinín agam agus ag an Rialtas as an Tánaiste. Is fear uasal, ceannaire láidir agus duine cothrom é. Go mór mór, is fear agus is duine é lán le trua. In every role that Simon Harris has played, he has demonstrated a number of attributes. He is personal, and he is committed to people and to working with people collectively. Everything he does is about making our society, our world and our communities a better place. Leadership is about responsibility. It is about facing up to mistakes. It is about making those mistakes and making the policy into real-life impacts on people. Simon Harris does that in his job every single day. He has demonstrated responsibility. We saw it during the Covid-19 pandemic. In each of his portfolios, we have seen what he has done and what he does.”
“It is, as the Senator said, to eliminate that choked passageway through Innishannon, Clonakilty, Bantry and Bandon. I will work with the Senator to ensure he gets a reply back and a meeting with officials. It is an important issue. I say this as a Cork person who understands the frustration of people in west Cork. If you stand at the side of the road in Innishannon, it is nearly a procession of traffic the whole time, as the Cathaoirleach knows. I take the Senator's frustration and annoyance at the response. I will work with him to ensure we progress the plan. I thank him again for raising the matter.”
“I accept the Senator's disappointment. The N71 is a very important gateway to west Cork. I live at the beginning of it and have travelled it. There is huge merit in what the Senator is suggesting about a co-ordinated corridor. I will not read out the rest of the response to the Senator because it will probably aggravate him further and I do not want to do that. We all share, whether it is the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, or me, the need for continued road investment and allocation of funding for projects such as the N71. I give a commitment to the Senator that I will co-ordinate a meeting between him and officials in the Department. It is something we have to look at in terms of the gateway to west Cork, which is a tourism mecca for our county and region. It is also an important one in terms of the ongoing investment in Cork.”
“I do take the Senator's point about the co-ordinated council plan. It is one that is needed. Those of us who use the road understand the importance of what the Senator has raised. The Senator is articulating very eloquently and very passionately the views of many. I thank the Senator for his ongoing advocacy. I look forward, with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, to ensuring that Innishannon, Bandon, Clonakilty and Bantry, and the people of west Cork, receive their share of funding. The Senator is right that it is gridlock now going through Innishannon at any hour of the day or night and it is nearly a long-term hazard. The Senator has articulated quite well that Bandon is choked too. I look forward to working with the Senator to ensure we can prioritise and progress the N71 upgrade.”
“Cork County Council held a competition in 2023 to appoint technical advisers to complete phase two - options selection, and phase three - design and environmental evaluation. As part of the national roads allocation for this year, €450,000 has been allocated, which will facilitate the advancement of the planning and design stage of the scheme. In relation to the proposed bypass at Bantry, I can confirm that as part of this year's national roads allocation €100,000 was allocated to progress the scheme to the initial planning phase. I understand from my discussions with TII and Cork County Council that we are not yet in a position to prioritise the proposed bypass of Innishannon and Clonakilty due to the many competing demands for these resources, which have been required to fund other schemes.”
“I completely concur with the Senator having used the road extensively myself and having been down there with the Senator over the summer months. The Senator will be aware that an extension to the existing Bandon relief road is intended to address a number of issues with the current road. Currently this road ties back into the existing road network via a very steep downhill gradient. Traffic also needs to negotiate a number of roundabouts and priority junctions with the built-up area of Bandon. The proposed relief road extension will involve bridging the R603 to remove the steep gradient and the construction of approximately 2.5 km of a new single carriageway line tying back to the existing N71 just to the west of the town.”
“Another €5.1 billion has been earmarked for new national road projects over the lifetime of the national development plan. Approximately €502 million in Exchequer capital funds were provided for national roads through TII to local authorities this year. This is used for the construction of major new projects as well as the protection and renewal of the existing road network. It is important to point out that a number of road projects have been delivered in the Cork area around the M28 and the N22, and also at the Dunkettle interchange. The Senator raised the N71 specifically, which is an important gateway for west Cork, as the Senator has rightly said. Funding has been given in terms of some of the improvements but again the variety of improvement schemes are not what they should be, as the Senator said.”
“As the Member will be aware, once funding arrangements are put in place with TII under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and the national development plan, NDP, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII conjunction with the local authority, which in this case is Cork County Council. TII ultimately delivers the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the NDP. A priority in the NDP, in line with the Department's typical investment hierarchy, is to maintain the quality and safety of the existing road network. The NDP foresees an Exchequer allocation of some €2.9 billion for the protection and renewal of existing national roads over a ten-year period, excluding those in public-private partnerships, allocated evenly across the decade.”
“I thank the Senator for raising the matter of the N71. The Senator is right that it is very different from when it was first originated and built. The Senator has outlined very much the key issues of safety and congestion. The traffic volume has made many of those vibrant towns very congested. I concur completely with the Senator that the N71 from the Bandon Road roundabout back to Bantry is deserving of a response from the Government and Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII. The Senator is right that the wait has been long enough. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, who has responsibility for the overall policy and, with the Department of Transport, for Exchequer funding in relation to our national roads programme.”
“I ask it to do so and continue to engage regarding the issues it has raised. As I have outlined, there has been engagement and I hope that continues. I will bring back the Senator’s concerns.”
“With regard to health supports, as I have already said, the package of supports and services to be provided to survivors is the exact same as was previously provided under the Magdalen laundry and mother and baby institutions schemes. While there have been calls for the provision of a Health (Amendment) Act, HAA, card, it is important to note that this was introduced specifically to meet the significant health needs of a particular group of individuals who contracted a serious and life-threatening condition, that is, people who contracted hepatitis C through the administration within the State of contaminated blood and blood products. I will bring back all the concerns the Senator raised. With regard to the ongoing protest, it is important that the group reconsiders its current actions in the interest of people’s health and well-being.”
“It is a very sensitive and difficult matter, as I outlined in my reply at the beginning. In June 2023, the Government approved a provision of a package of ongoing supports to survivors in the areas of health, education and advocacy, which built upon the already significant State response to the issue. It is considered that the package is a balanced and proportional approach which addresses a number of key issues raised by survivors. It is also broadly consistent with the approach taken in respect of other groups, in particular survivors and former residents of the Magdalen laundries and the mother and baby institutions. However, it is acknowledged that the package of supports does not go as far as some survivors would like.”
“I can confirm that officials in the Department are in the process of reviewing the recommendations of the report of the consultative forum again and I understand that, in relation to the recommendations on memorialisation and records, there is scope for further engagement. It is regrettable that the group has chosen to take this action. I respectfully urge them to reconsider their current action in the interest of their health and to engage with officials to discuss the various matters I have referred to.”
“Survivors living abroad will be able to avail of a payment of €3,000, in lieu of this package of supports, to support their health needs. This is the same approach taken in respect of the mother and baby institutions. The Act also provides for the establishment of a scheme involving the payment of cash grants ranging from €500 to €2,000 to survivors who are engaging in further and higher education. This scheme will ensure survivors are not required to pay the student contribution charge where this would otherwise apply. The focus is now on implementing the legislation and the Government is not in a position to revisit it.”
“It gives effect to the Government's decision of June 2023 to provide certain ongoing supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions such as industrial schools and reformatories, including health, education and advocacy supports. This marks a new phase in the State's response to the issue. The package of health supports and services provided for in the Act will ensure survivors resident in the State have access to a range of health supports through the HSE, including GP services, home nursing and home helps, chiropody and podiatry, and physiotherapy. This approach is consistent with that taken in respect of survivors and former residents of the Magdalen laundries and mother and baby institutions. The entitlement will be for life and will not be subject to means tests or periodic reviews.”
“Officials from the Department of Education and Youth have also been in touch with the group on a number of occasions. The special advocate for survivors, Ms Patricia Carey, has been in ongoing contact. Officials from the Department met with the group in August to listen to their concerns. At all times, they have been respectfully urged to safeguard their health and well-being. It is regrettable that they have chosen to continue their protests. The HSE has arranged for regular welfare and medical checks to be carried out and the Department of Education and Youth has offered to arrange accommodation for the group during the recent severe weather warning. The Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025 was passed by the Oireachtas in July. The Act was subject to extensive debate, particularly in this House.”
“I thank Senator O'Reilly for raising this very important and sensitive matter. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy McEntee, who sends her apologies because she cannot be here. I assure the Senator that the Government is very conscious of the enormous trauma experienced by all survivors of abuse. She is right that these are vulnerable people. With regard to the group currently engaged in a protest outside Leinster House, the primary concern of the Minister and the Government has been, and at all times is, that they safeguard their physical and mental health by reconsidering their action. These four people should be treated with respect and dignity. Both the Minister and the Taoiseach have met separately with the group.”
“We also need to examine how we can put in place certainty for individuals and families. The HSE has reported that the changing support needs of current service users is resulting in increased costs for additional adaptation services and that the cost of new residential placements has increased significantly, with the average cost of a new placement increasing year on year by 29% in the past six years. The availability of suitable housing also presents a challenge. I assure the Senator that the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, working with the HSE, is trying to address demand while also putting in place a range of supports, measures and programmes aimed at supporting people with disabilities to remain in the family home and ensure certainty for older family members, in particular.”
“I again thank Senator Costello. She is right; it is about communication, but it is also about trust. It is about prioritising this very important issue she has raised because there is huge concern among that group of parents. It is a challenge. There is a significant waiting list for residential services. Demand is extremely high and exceeds what we are currently providing. The Government is working to address these challenges in order to provide people with disabilities with the services they require and their families deserve, including those being care for by ageing parents who, in many cases, require a residential placement. There are huge challenges in providing residential places for a variety of reasons. It is important that we continue to face those challenges in the recruitment and retention of staff.”
“In addition to residential services, there are other measures that are available to support people with disabilities and their families and carers. Other supports include day services, respite services, intensive support packages, home support and personal assistance. I recognise that, in some cases, they may not be available or they may not be what the people the Senator spoke about require. I recognise the burnout and the need for relief for family carers. I commit with the Department to ensuring that the provision of residential places through a multi-annual capital plan will be progressed. I look forward to working with Senator Costello and the Department to ensure we do meet the needs of elderly parents.”
“In budget 2026, a total of €3.8 billion has been allocated for specialist disability services, representing an almost 20% increase year on year. From the period 2020 to 2024, 709 new priority one residential places have been created for people with disabilities. This, with the places provided to August, brings the total number of new places to 851 since 2020. This level of provision has undoubtedly assisted those who were awaiting a residential placement, including those with disabilities who are being cared for by their ageing parents. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality, alongside the HSE, is continuing to work to increase provision in order to assist those who are most vulnerable in our society and who urgently require services.”
“The review projected a need for a minimum of around 100 new residential places every year from 2020 to 2032 arising from changes in the size and age structure of the relevant disability population. The subsequent Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026 has committed to providing 900 residential placements for people with disabilities. The HSE, together with approximately 90 service providers, is providing 8,808 residential places to people with disabilities. In 2025, the Government has secured €3.2 billion for disability services, which includes €106.6 million in additional funding for disability residential services. This funding was provided to support in the order of 70 new residential placements. Up to August this year, 142 such places have been created.”
“The Senator rightly raised that point because there is a huge concern for parents who want necessity of certainty and quality of care. Government acknowledges the importance of the voice of the person with the disability and the wishes they may have regarding their own future. It is also important to note that, currently, demand for specialist disability residential places exceeds what is currently provided. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality is working with the HSE to address current levels of demand in line with the 2021 Disability Capacity Review to 2032, and the subsequent Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026. The disability capacity review 2021 identified a significant level of underprovision of residential care places, as the Senator outlined.”
“That is not dramatic; that is a real concern of the elderly for their children, who in some cases, as the Senator said, have been cared for from the cradle to the grave. It is when the parents leave that this becomes a problem. The Senator is right. I thank her for raising this important issue. Government is aware that there are a growing number of elderly parents who are caring for people with disabilities and a lot - not all - of those adult children will require residential care as their parents continue to age and as they will after their parents die. Furthermore, Government recognises the vital work carried out by family carers as well as the impact that caring can have on carers' physical and mental health.”
“I thank the Senator for raising the matter and wish her luck in her lip sync at the weekend. The contribution she made is a powerful one because it is the lived experience of many parents. In many ways, the reply I give will be inadequate to the articulation she has given because she is right. There is a group of parents who are caring for their disabled adult child, and they are now reaching a point where they cannot do it anymore. It is a huge issue and one that we encounter. I speak as somebody who is involved with what was Cope Foundation and is now called Horizon in County Cork, and who recognises the powerful words the Senator spoke this morning, because people are living it every day. It is affecting their quality of life, and they want certainty for their beloved adult child for the future when they are not here.”
“I will conclude by saying I am proud that, as a Minister of State in the Department of Transport, we see construction on the M28 in Cork, plans for the M20 progressing and progress on the much-needed double tracking of lines in the Cork commuter rail area.”
“In addition, the town and village renewal scheme, the CLÁR programme and the local improvement scheme have been increased by up to €17 million for this year as well as the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme, which is very important. In the time remaining, I make reference to the Department of Transport, where I am responsible for rural transport. I am pleased we have secured extra funding for the rural transport programme. With the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, we have secured €940 million to put PSO services on a stable and more permanent footing. I am conscious there is huge demand for new services and new routes and that will be looked at in the overall context of the budget.”
“I welcome the revitalisation and the re-enactment of the RAPID programme. I am glad we have secured €5 million in capital funding next year for the development of a new RAPID programme to revitalise our most disadvantaged areas through co-ordinated planning and investment. Along with that, the Department has secured an addition €3 million in funding for the community centre investment fund, which will bring total funding available next year to €20 million. This will support the small grant scheme and the development of new community centres where they are most needed. Along with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, I welcome the significant investment in the rural regeneration and development fund and the LEADER programme.”
“Members of the House who know and work with SICAP will know the importance and impact of it. I am delighted the Department has received the level of funding we have in the budget. The community services programme, CSP, is another vital programme which will help to deliver services in disadvantaged communities. I am delighted that we have secured an additional €4 million for the scheme next year, bringing funding for this important scheme to €59 million for 2026. The CSP supports more than 400 community-based organisations, with more than 3,000 associated jobs. I make reference to the PEACEPLUS programme. My Department delivers a range of community supports for this cross-Border scheme. The budget will provide almost €4 million in additional funding for this area, with total funding of €11 million in the next calendar year.”
“This significant investment will ensure we continue to enhance delivery across a range of schemes, which are so important for communities right across our country. The community development budget is an accentuation of the programme for Government commitments and will show that we in government, and in Fine Gael in particular, are delivering on our programme for Government commitments. I pay tribute to the officials in the Department of community, rural and Gaeltacht affairs and community development for the work they did, along with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, in bringing this budget through. A total of €74 million will be spent on the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, and other social inclusion supports. SICAP is critical for supporting social inclusion and addressing disadvantage in many communities.”
“I am sharing time with the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon. Is mian liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leo siúd a dhéanann ár bpobail a fheabhsú agus a chothú, agus a chuireann deiseanna ar fáil sna pobail sin. Tá €260 milliún sa bhuiséad forbartha comhphobail. Baineann forbairt comhphobail le duine nó gnó a chuireann athraithe i bhfeidhm ar son leas na ndaoine. I welcome the budget for the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Transport. I particularly welcome the allocation for community development, which is my area of responsibility, working with the Minister, Deputy Calleary. A budget of €260 million out of total €611 million illustrates the importance of community development to tackle some of the issues Deputy Healy spoke about in his contribution.”
“I am a big believer in data collection, not just to show what we are doing right but also in order that we can learn the data as to how we can engage further. I hope the research we will accrue from this debate will lead us to make changes in the future. What we must do is continue to support and work with every sector to ensure that we put in place a strategy, whether it is rural Ireland or urban Ireland, that has a strong root that creates and cultivates enterprises that thrive and allow people to be creative. I am very much committed to this. We must continue to put support in social enterprise in a targeted way. We will have that debate again in the future. I thank Senators for their contributions. I will come back to Senator Tully about Cavan. If she wants to email me or have another chat, we can do so.”
“As I visit social enterprises throughout the country, what I see that at first hand. What we have heard today is about thriving sustainable organisations such as those in the circular economy and the green economy. The point we do not raise enough the contribution they make in terms of adding billions to our economy, while at the same time helping people in areas who perhaps you would not necessarily say were going to be here working to do this. We are all working together to make a better world and better Ireland. What I, as Minister of State, want to do is continue to see investment. I accept the point about multi-annual funding. It is something we may need to do more of. We do it for capital projects. There is huge competition in terms of job retention and creation in certain sectors of our economy.”
“It reflects what we are all at. We are all ambitious, no matter what part of the jigsaw or circle of the wheel we are in. If you go back to my speech from the first iteration to where we are now, look at the model of IRD Duhallow that Senator Lynch spoke about. Look at what it is doing today in comparison with when it started. I was in Mayfield CDP on north side of Cork city on Friday. Thirty-five years ago, a group of women came together with Canon Donal Lenihan to form a CDP to bring opportunity to change the lives of people. Now, the needs and challenges are still there, but the engagement, inclusivity, drive, initiative and energy by a new group of people is still there. The stakeholder engagement group piece is important. The group will oversee the delivery of the policy. As I said, it has begun its work.”
“They are in Ballina, Tipperary, Cork, Wexford and Cavan. It is just fantastic. I do not say this to be patronising, but it gives me hope, warms me and motivates me because they are risk-takers outside their comfort zone in many cases, but they are committed, dedicated, passionate and driving each other on and challenging us to continue to do better. I do not come to this job in terms of what I do with a know-all approach; I come to listen and to engage. I was in Bray recently. I am going to Athlone tomorrow for the SICAP conference. It is about recognising the value for our local economy and society. It is my intention and that of the Minister, Deputy Calleary, to deliver on the implementation of the Trading for Impact social enterprise policy. That will not happen by chance; it will happen as a result of dedication and commitment.”
“On occasion, you cannot measure the matrix, but it is supporting 1,700 full-time jobs and 340 people in managerial posts, all of which leads to a policy that is committed to making an impact in a positive way in our communities. In many ways, if you look at some of the failures in research and development, those involved would say that they would never start again. It is similar with social enterprise. They are not just businesses; they are businesses with a social conscience that are about not just empowering or re-educating people but about giving them an opportunity to recalibrate. As a former director of adult education, I met people every day who recognise the importance of their communities and of having the chance to do something and make a contribution. We saw this during Covid. Senator Cosgrove spoke about it in Sligo.”
“It is about taking that model and acting on it. If you have ideas, we have heard about such ideas today, we will work on them. I will deal with some of the points that have been raised in terms of developing the national body. Action 49 of Trading for Impact commits to enhancing the co-ordination of social enterprises. We are working with the representative bodies, whether it is SERI, ISEN, LDCN or The Wheel. As I said in my speech, they won the contract to support our Department in delivering the policies today. The national conferences, the awards, the traineeship programme and networking all help to develop a model. As Members will know, CSP is in huge demand. It supports 430 community-based organisations and provides for what we all outlined in our contributions. Another thing it does sometimes gets lost.”
“It is about the people who are in whatever position they are in the context of their imperfections. I hesitate to use the word "perfection" because none of us is perfect. It is about making communities better and about the lives that have been transformed. I recently had the pleasure of being with the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray MacAdam, at the Dublin City Council enterprise awards. I was blown away by the people I met. It is about the transformative approach that has taken place and, as Senator Goldsboro said, it is the harnessing of people and bringing them together. If we do nothing else, we must recognise that the economic aspect is important. Well-being is equally important. As we have all said, it is about improving lives, transforming them and, very importantly, creating opportunities.”
“Rural-proofing is important. As the Senator pointed out, we should not forget rural Ireland. I agree wholeheartedly with that. The public consultation two years ago and the research we have commissioned both identified the importance of rural Ireland. Some 43% of our social enterprises are located in rural areas, where they should be. They provide opportunity in the context of the different matters that Senators Cosgrove, Goldsboro, Tully and Byrne referred to. The important point is that it is about removing the barriers. It is not about making profit; it is about the opportunity. Senator Aubrey McCarthy spoke about Tiglin. As a community activist before I entered politics, as a politician and, now, as a Minister of State, I have discovered that it is about the opportunity.”
“I thank the Members for their very important contributions. I will work backwards from the final speaker. I look forward to visiting that project. If Senator Byrne wants to give me the details, I will happily engage with him on it. In the context of the debate, there is more that unites us than divides us. In terms of the Cavan model or the Cavan numbers, we have to engage further because we have not got that detail. A lot of funding was given to Cavan We will come back on that because it is important that we take account of the overarching policy to deliver for all communities and for people. This is about delivery. As Senator Lynch said, this is the keystone policy that does not forget any location. The Senator was right to mention a number of places, for example IRD Duhallow, which is a wonderful example, as is the one in Macroom.”
“Trading for Impact represents a strong commitment by the Government to social enterprises and recognises the value and potential they bring to making our communities and environment stronger and more sustainable. As we look to the future, we support the power of local action to shape national outcomes. Through supporting the delivery of the actions contained in Trading for Impact, we will strongly support the development of the sector in the years to come. The best is yet to come. We are in the process of creating conditions where social enterprises can do what they do best, which is to serve, include and empower. I look forward to hearing the contributions of Members.”
“My Department has also commissioned a pilot programme to investigate the challenges and merits of using a voluntary quality mark, which I believe will make it easier for social enterprises to secure business supports, public procurement contracts, philanthropic funding, grants and more by providing a trusted mark of approval for individuals and businesses that are thinking about doing business with them. As stated in the Dáil, social enterprises do not wait for the conditions to be perfect. They act quietly and practically to create jobs, unlock talent, build local resilience and reimagine what inclusive and sustainable growth can look like.”
“My Department has commissioned a consortium, made up of Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland, the Irish Social Enterprise Network, the Local Development Company Network and The Wheel, to deliver a number of actions under the policy on its behalf, including: holding two national social enterprise conferences, the second of which will be held in Ballinasloe in November; a national social enterprise awards event; the series of regional networking events that took place earlier this year; and a pilot awareness raising programme for transition year students.”
“Trading for Impact commits to improving opportunities for social enterprises to compete for public contracts. As an initial step, my officials are actively engaging with the Office of Government Procurement and the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, on its new guidelines to ensure that all public bodies are aware of, and actively include, social clauses in their procurement, where possible. We will also support social enterprises to bid for and win contracts, and thereby increase their income and become more sustainable. Under the policy, work will also be undertaken to ensure that more corporate buyers are aware of the positive impact they can have on their communities by doing business with social enterprises.”
“I take this opportunity to highlight the active labour market programmes, such as the community employment programme, the rural social scheme and Tús. Some 60% of social enterprises have paid staff employed through these programmes. Since 2021, my Department has sponsored the "Partnering with a Social Enterprise" category at the Chambers Ireland Sustainable Business Awards, one of which is for "Partnering with a Social Enterprise". This recognises the value of private businesses partnering with social enterprises. As the sector grows and matures, the needs and challenges of social enterprises that arise from their legal form will be monitored to ensure there is a clear and favourable legal basis for the co-operative model in Ireland. This will improve the options available for establishing social enterprises.”
“My officials will continue to work with colleagues across government to ensure improved access to funding and supports for social enterprises, including Enterprise Ireland. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment will sit on the Trading for Action policy implementation group in response to its responsibilities under actions 15 and 16 of the policy. It is about improving access to schemes, such as the Enterprise Ireland high-potential start-up team, for eligible early-stage social enterprises that are considered to have innovative products, services or technologies. It will also ensure a consistency of approach across the local enterprise offices, LEOs, which do tremendous work across the country.”