Social enterprise can help Ireland work its way out of crisis
The Task Force on Social Enterprise launched the report, Adding Value, Delivering Change, yesterday, focussing on how social enterprise can aid national recovery.
The task force is an initiative of the Clann Credo Social Investment Fund and Dublin Employment Pact.
Citing the impact of existing groups – such as the GAA, the credit union movement and the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) – the report claims that setting a European average target of 5% of national economic output, instead of the current level here of 3%, would provide up to 65,000 jobs and get communities working.
Social enterprises that engage in commercial activity for social and/or environmental purposes could be incorporated into the economic, planning and development strategies of local authorities.
According to the report: “Countries that recognise and value social enterprise as part of the ‘real’ economy have achieved significant growth in employment and output in the sector while addressing genuine social and environmental needs.
“But the sector is underdeveloped, representing only 3% of GDP, and in need of appropriate support, both from within and from the wider policy and support infrastructure.
“It needs to be mainstreamed into the greater economy.
“Government needs to recognise that social enterprise can contribute to helping Ireland work its way out of the current crisis.
“The sector itself needs to realise that it must work together if meaningful progress is to be achieved.”
The report’s recommendations include a social enterprise remit within existing enterprise funding mechanisms and the development of the use of social clauses in public and local authority procurement policy and supporting social enterprises to build consortia and to tender for public contracts.
The report was welcomed by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Batt O’Keeffe.
And Paul O’Sullivan, CEO of Clann Credo, the Social Investment Fund, said that social enterprise could assist local communities by providing a range of needed services, “including transport for people with disabilities, community recycling, green agenda initiatives and development of community facilities.”
* www.socialenterprise.ie
