Macro-indicators shaping the social enterprise ecosystem in Ireland_
| Culture | Institutional collectivism (values) | 4,59 |
| In-group collectivism (values) | 5,74 | |
| Uncertainty avoidance (practices) | 4,3 | |
| Welfare State | Public Spending Health (2018) (% GDP) | 6,9 (EU 9,9) |
| Public Spending Education (2019) (% GDP) | 3,1 (EU 4,7) | |
| Governance | Regulatory quality (2020) | 91,8 |
| Rule of law (2020) | 90,4 | |
| Control of corruption (2020) | 91,3 | |
| Economy | Economic Development Stage (2019) (GCI Ranking) | Innovation (24th) |
| GDP/per capita (2019) | 2nd European countries | |
| GNI*/AIC (2019) | 12th European countries | |
| Civil society | Workforce (third sector) (2018) | 7,3% total workforce |
| Volunteers | Significant levels of volunteers | |
| Funding | Government main funding support | |
| Sector Model | Liberal/Welfare partnership |
Features of Ireland’s social enterprises ecosystem within the European landscape
| Features of Social Enterprise Ecosystem | Europe | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| Policy | Social Business Initiative (2011); Action Plan for Social Economy (2021) National policy frameworks (15 EU countries – E.g. Denmark, Sweden, Latvia) | Irish National Social Enterprise Policy 2019 – 2022 Other policies and strategies that include social enterprises measures, e.g. Working to Change: Social Enterprise and Employment Strategy 2021-2023; Rural Development Policy 2021 – 2025 |
| Working definition | European Commission (SBI) definition: Social impact rather than profit maximization (profit primarily reinvested) Continuous economic trading activity Managed involving different stakeholders | National Social Enterprise Policy definition: Social, societal, environmental impact rather than profit maximization (reinvesting surpluses in social objectives) Trading on ongoing basis Governed in transparent and accountable manner, independent from public sector Asset lock |
| Legal form | Stand-alone legal form/status (e.g. Finland) Adjusting cooperative (e.g. Portugal) or company law (e.g. UK) Other legal forms/status (across Europe) | Lack of specific/stand-alone legal form CLG usual legal form for Irish social enterprises |
| Private certification/marks | Social Enterprise Mark (e.g. Finland, UK. B Corps Other sectoral certifications (e.g. Fairtrade) | Social Enterprise Mark (early stages) |
| Intermediary support and advocacy networks and organizations | National and regional support networks (23 EU countries – e.g. Estonia, Croatia, Denmark, Netherlands) | E.g. ISEN, ILDN, SERI, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, Rethink Ireland, Waterford Social Enterprise Network, Inishowen Social Enterprise Network |
| Academia, education and research | Increasing: modules and programmes on social enterprises (social entrepreneurship) national and international research projects research networks scientific publications | |
| Funding/financing | Revenue mix (varies from sector of activity) Multiple funding mechanisms and financial intermediaries from public, for-profit, non-profit and community sectors | |