Department of Rural and Community Development and OECD Launch Report on Social Enterprise at the Fifth National Social Enterprise Conference

Heather Humphreys TD, the Minister for Rural and Community Development , on Thursday 16 November, opened Ireland’s Fifth National Social Enterprise Conference, to a gathering of more than 400 delegates from across the social enterprise sector. The conference took place in the Shearwater Hotel, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.

The theme of the conference was ‘Social Enterprise in Ireland – An International Perspective’. The aims of the annual conference are to provide networking opportunities, disseminate information, share best practice and inform policy implementation and future policy development.

At the conference, Minister Humphreys and Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD, Yoshiki Takeuchi jointly launched a landmark report on social enterprise policy implementation ‘Boosting Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise Development in Ireland’.

Opening the Conference, Minister Humphreys said:

“The social enterprise sector is growing, along with the wider social economy. It is playing an increasingly important role in delivering positive responses to our social and societal issues.”

Speaking on the Launch of the OECD report, Minister Humphreys said:

“This report confirms that Ireland is home to a vibrant social enterprise community, active in areas such as healthcare and education as well as local development and the cultural and creative sectors.

“It provides an in-depth analysis of social enterprise in Ireland and marks another milestone in my Department’s strong relationship with the OECD.  The OECD’s work will inform the development of our new social enterprise policy which I would intend to publish early next year.”

Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD, Yoshiki Takeuchi said:

“Here in Ireland there is already a vibrant community of over 4000 social enterprises.  

“It is having a huge impact, generating income of EUR 2.34 billion and providing jobs for 3.7% of the Irish workforce, more than two thirds of which are women.

“This is an extraordinary platform to build on.

“I am confident the OECD review we are launching today will help Ireland develop an ambitious new National Policy for Social Enterprises.”

Key Speakers at the Conference:

The Conference brings together a wide range of national and international speakers representing the wide spectrum of social enterprise activity in Ireland. Minister Humphreys delivered the welcome address. Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD, Yoshiki Takeuchi provided opening remarks on the launch of the report ‘Boosting Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise Development in Ireland’. 

Download the report here: Boosting Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise Development in Ireland: In-depth policy review | OECD Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Papers | OECD iLibrary (oecd-ilibrary.org)