Census of Social Enterprises in Ireland to update and expand the 2023 Baseline Data Collection Exercise

2026-11-03

The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) was established in July 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland. The Department’s Mission is “to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland”. In 2019 the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) published the National Social Enterprise Policy 2019-2022 which sought to create an enabling environment for social enterprise in Ireland to grow and contribute to Ireland’s social and economic progress. One of the policy actions committed to “Improve data collection relating to the extent of Social Enterprise in Ireland and the areas in which social enterprises operate”. A baseline data collection exercise was commissioned by the department. The resultant document entitled 'Social Enterprises in Ireland A Baseline Data Collection Exercise ' was published by DRCDG in 2023. The second National Social Enterprise Policy – Trading for Impact was published by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht in July 2024. ‘Trading for Impact’ has been designed to cultivate and sustain a strong and impactful social enterprise sector in Ireland that enriches the social, environmental, and economic wellbeing of our communities. The policy details five key objectives: • Building Awareness of Social Enterprise • Growing and Sustaining Social Enterprise • Supporting the Green Transition • National and International Engagement • Impact Measurement Action No 51 of Trading for Impact commits to to undertake a Census of Social Enterprises in Ireland to update and expand the 2023 Baseline Data Collection Exercise. The successful service provider will be required to deliver a two-stage stakeholder driven project to the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht: Stage 1 – In conjunction with the Department of Rural and Community Development, to review and update the methodology used in the Social Enterprises in Ireland A Baseline Data Collection Exercise published by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht in 2023. Upon satisfactory completion of Stage 1, Stage 2 – To conduct a Census of Social Enterprises in Ireland in collaboration with social enterprise networks, present a preliminary report with headline findings followed by a comprehensive report about the scale, scope and nature of the social enterprise population in Ireland. The data collected to be presented in an anonymised format and, in accordance with a commitment in Trading For Impact, made publicly available in line with the 2023-2027 Open Data Strategy, which states that Government data should be open by default and design. Full details of this research project can be found in the associated Request for Tender Document.

Ireland

2025-10-24