Embargo: Wednesday, 28 March, 1pm
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE CAN DELIVER
‘SIGNIFICANT JOBS AND SERVICES,’ SAYS CLANN CREDO
Dublin, 28 March: Social Finance and social enterprise can make a major contribution to providing sustainable jobs and services throughout Ireland over next five years, Paul O’Sullivan, CEO of Clann Credo - the Social Investment Fund, said at the organisation’s 2012 ‘Common Cents’ Conference in Dublin today (Wed. March 28th).
The event was addressed by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, TD.
Mr O’Sullivan said that recent developments at EU Commission, government and local community level indicate a far clearer appreciation of the role that social enterprise and social entrepreneurship can and must play in tackling the effects of the current recession.
He said that key developments include:
- The recent EU Commission announcement of a Social Business Initiative, to provide new funding and public procurement initiatives for development of social enterprises at national level
- The recent government Jobs Plan which commissioned Forfás to produce a report on “the potential of social enterprise to create jobs.”
- Increasing evidence of people at local level seeking to establish social enterprise based models to create jobs and provide jobs in their communities.
He said that “it is both highly significant and welcome that the government’s Jobs Plan has placed overall responsibility for social enterprise within the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. In addition, Forfás has been asked to examine ‘actions required, in funding, procurement, etc, by Government and other relevant bodies and agencies to create jobs in this sector’,” he said.
The same approach and policy is mirrored at EU Commission level, Mr O’Sullivan said.
“The new Social Business Initiative aims to ‘create a favourable environment for the development of social businesses in Europe, and the social economy at large’ with the aim of enabling ‘social enterprise play a key role in future EU policy on job creation and service delivery.’”
Clann Credo recently celebrated 15 years in operation. During this time it has provided almost €40m in social finance loans for community development projects, €6m of this during the past year alone.
“An important aspect of Clann Credo’s activity is that it operates in every County in Ireland and works with both urban and rural communities.
“At a time when lending by the mainstream banks is seriously constrained, Clann Credo’s social finance plays a valuable role in providing funding access for community based organisations.
“Next week, for example, a new programme to promote community development and jobs and mentoring in County Longford will be announced. Known as Social Enterprise Longford (SEL), it will be run by Clann Credo - the Social Investment Fund, the Irish Social Finance Centre and Longford EDI Centre, in conjunction with Longford Community Resources Limited.
These and other initiatives, when rolled out in communities nationally, will be the springboard for a major expansion of social enterprise jobs and services. Increased support and focus by government to enable communities across Ireland to benefit from the new funding and procurement mechanisms arising at the EU Commission’s initiative, will further assist this process, Mr O’Sullivan said.
NOTE FOR EDITORS
Paul O’Sullivan, CEO of Clann Credo is available for interview. For further information contact Gert Ackermann on 086 176 9287, or Paul O’Sullivan on 087 226 4902.
/ENDS
