Preasráiteas: Trádáil ar mhaithe le Tionchar: ‘Móráireamh Fiontar Sóisialta 2026’ seolta ag an Aire Buttimer
Thursday, 30 April 2026
Trading for Impact: Minister Buttimer Launches ‘The 2026 Social Enterprise Census’
- Every social enterprise is called to complete the survey
- Important opportunity for social enterprises to influence future policy decisions, funding priorities, and support programme development
Minister for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD, today (Thursday, 30 April 2026) announced the opening of the 2026 Social Enterprise Census. This will build on the information gathered during the Baseline Data Collection Exercise that took place in 2023.
Following a competitive, socially responsible tender process, Amárach Research, in partnership with Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland (SERI), were awarded the contract to deliver this project on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
Growing, strengthening and realising the impact of social enterprises within communities are key goals of the Government’s Social Enterprise Policy ‘Trading for Impact’, and this data is key to the continued targeted delivery of this policy, and how the sector will be supported into the future.
Making the announcement today, Minister Buttimer said:
“Social enterprises play a vital role in communities across the country. They deliver services for those who need them most, help with the green transition and increase our quality of life in Ireland and abroad. In order to continue to properly support them, we need to know more about the landscape in which they operate.
“This Census will help us understand where they are growing and where they need additional support to ensure decisions made about the sector are informed by the voices and experiences of those delivering real impact on the ground.
“For the first time, we will be able to conduct a comparative analysis between the data from 2023 and 2026, which will provide a strong evidence base to Government, along with those stakeholders we work in partnership with, to target our work to support the sector. I expect to have a report published before the end of 2026.”
The Minister concluded:
“I encourage every social enterprise regardless of size or sector to participate and ensure their voice is heard. There is strength in numbers, and the more responses we receive the better our understanding of the sector will be.”
Michael McLoughlin of Amárach Research, speaking on behalf of both consortium members, said:
“We are delighted to carry out the 2026 National Social Enterprise Census on behalf of DRCDG. Robust data is essential to understanding the needs of social enterprises and unlocking their full potential.
“Through this collaboration of consortium partners, Amárach Research, and SERI, we will provide the insights needed to inform decision-making, strengthen supports and ensure social enterprises can continue to deliver meaningful impact in communities nationwide.”
The census will be open until Sunday, 28 June, and can be accessed at https://panel.amarachsurveys.ie/S2/159/SEDRCDG/
Preasráiteas
Déardaoin, 30 Aibreán 2026
Trádáil ar mhaithe le Tionchar: ‘Móráireamh Fiontar Sóisialta 2026’ seolta ag an Aire Buttimer
- Iarrtar ar gach fiontar sóisialta an suirbhé a chomhlíonadh
- Deis thábhachtach d’fhiontair shóisialta tionchar a imirt ar chinntí beartais agus tosaíochtaí maoinithe amach anseo, agus chun tacú le forbairt clár
Inniu (Déardaoin, 30 Aibreán 2026) d’fhógair an tAire Forbartha Pobail agus Carthanachtaí, Jerry Buttimer TD, oscailt Mhóráireamh Fiontar Sóisialta 2026. Cuirfidh sé seo leis an fhaisnéis a bailíodh le linn an Bhirt Bailithe Faisnéise Bonnlíne a tharla in 2023.
I ndiaidh próiseas tairisceana iomaíoch, a bhí freagrach ó thaobh sóisialta de, bronnadh an conradh ar Amárach Research, i gcomhar le Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland (SERI), chun an tionscadal seo a thabhairt i gcrích thar ceann na Roinne Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta.
Is príomhspriocanna i mBeartas Fiontraíochta Sóisialta an Rialtais, ‘Trádáil ar mhaithe le Tionchar’, iad fiontair shóisialta a fhorbairt agus a neartú, agus tionchar iomlán s’acu a bhaint amach, agus beidh na sonraí seo ríthábhachtach chun an beartas seo a thabhairt i gcrích ar bhealach leanúnach spriocdhírithe, agus don tacaíocht don earnáil amach anseo.
Agus an fógra á dhéanamh aige inniu, dúirt an tAire Buttimer:
“Tá ról lárnach ag fiontair shóisialta i bpobail ar fud na tíre. Cuireann siad seirbhísí ar fáil dóibh siúd is mó gá leo, cuidíonn siad leis an aistriú glas agus feabhsaíonn siad ár gcaighdeán maireachtála in Éirinn agus thar lear. Chun gur féidir leanúint de bheith ag tacú leo i gceart, tá tuilleadh eolais de dhíth orainn faoin timpeallacht ina bhfeidhmíonn siad.
“Cabhróidh an Móráireamh seo linn chun tuiscint a fháil ar na réimsí ina bhfuil siad ag fás agus ina bhfuil breis tacaíochta de dhíth orthu, le cinntiú go ndéantar cinntí faoin earnáil le heolas ó thuairimí agus taithí iad siúd atá i mbun oibre ar an láthair.
“Den chéad uair, beidh muid in ann anailís chomparáideach a dhéanamh idir na sonraí ó 2023 agus ó 2026, a bheidh mar bhonn fianaise láidir don Rialtas, in éineacht leis na geallsealbhóirí a bhfuilimid i gcomhar leo, lenár n-obair a spriocdhíriú chun tacú leis an earnáil. Tá súil agam go bhfoilseofar tuarascáil roimh dheireadh 2026.”
Mar fhocal scoir, dúirt an tAire:
“Mholfainn do gach fiontar sóisialta, gan beann ar a mhéid nó a earnáil, páirt a ghlacadh agus cinntiú go n-éistear lena dtuairimí. Ní neart go cur le chéile, agus dá mhéad freagraí a fhaigheann muid, is ea is fearr a bheidh ár dtuiscint ar an earnáil.”
Dúirt Michael McLoughlin ó Amárach Research, agus é ag labhairt thar ceann bhaill an chuibhreannais:
“Is cúis áthais dúinn Móráireamh Náisiúnta Fiontar Sóisialta 2026 a reáchtáil thar ceann RFTPG. Ní mór sonraí iontaofa chun tuiscint a fháil ar riachtanais fiontar sóisialta agus a lánacmhainn a bhaint amach.
“Tríd an gcomhar seo idir chomhpháirtithe an chuibhreannais, Amárach Research agus SERI, cuirfidh muid an léargas ar fáil atá de dhíth chun eolas a dhéanamh do chinnteoireacht, tacaíochtaí a neartú agus cinntiú gur féidir le fiontair shóisialta leanúint de bheith ag tabhairt athrú fiúntach i gcrích i bpobail ar fud na tíre.”
Beidh an móráireamh ar oscailt go dtí Dé Domhnaigh, 28 Meitheamh, agus is féidir rochtain a fháil air ag https://panel.amarachsurveys.ie/S2/159/SEDRCDG/