Minister Buttimer launches the New Solutions Social Innovation Hub and announces funding for Scaling Up Initiatives
- Minister launches the New Solutions Social Innovation Hub in Cork
- Funding of over €2.5 million also announced for social innovation initiatives
- Total funding of over €5 million allocated to support and grow the social innovation ecosystem in Ireland
Today (Monday 3rd November 2025) Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer, launched the New Solutions Social Innovation Hub at an event in Cork. The Minister also announced funding for nine social innovations projects from the New Solutions Scaling Up Grants Scheme.
The overall objective of New Solutions Fund is to enhance the social innovation ecosystem in Ireland and is co-funded through the European Social Fund + 2021-2027 (ESF+), a European initiative aimed at reducing the risk of poverty and social exclusion, with an emphasis on disadvantaged groups.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Buttimer said:
“The launch of the New Solutions Social Innovation Hub is an exciting step forward in how we support social innovation in Ireland. The Hub will act as a One Stop Shop for the sector and support innovative initiatives that can address social challenges and deliver transformative change for communities.”
The New Solutions Social Innovation Hub will play a key role in developing the social innovation ecosystem in Ireland. The Hub will provide capacity building supports and grant funding to social innovation projects at all stages – from ideas to pilot scaling up.
Funding of €2.8 million has been allocated to the Hub which will be delivered by Rethink Ireland in partnership with Dublin City University, the Local Development Companies Network, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Western Development Commission and the Wheel.
Speaking at the event on behalf of the Social Innovation hub, Mario Vottero (Rethink Ireland) said:
“As a consortium, we are proud to combine our collective expertise and shared vision through New Solutions, working together to strengthen the social innovation ecosystem and create lasting social impact across communities across Ireland”.
The Minister also announced funding of over €2.5 million for nine social innovation projects from the New Solutions Scaling Up Scheme. The New Solutions Scaling Up Scheme provides funding to proven social innovation projects that are ready to grow and achieve greater impact. The successful grantees include:
- Sailing into Wellness, allocated funding of €295,734.
- Spraoi agus Sport, allocated funding of €300,000.
- Junior Achievement/Young Enterprise Ireland allocated funding of €299,396.
The New Solutions Innovation Hub will work closely with the projects to provide capacity building and support.
Announcing the successful projects, Minister Buttimer said:
“I am delighted to announce funding of over €2.5 million for nine social innovation projects from the New Solutions Scaling Up Grant Scheme. Social Innovation has the power to transform communities, supporting them in becoming stronger and more resilient.
“The successful projects announced today have already proven that they work and are ready to grow. The projects will be supported at every step by the Social Innovation Hub to maximise their impact.”
The Department was supported by Pobal in the implementation of the New Solutions Social Innovation Fund.
Pobal CEO, Anna Shakespeare said:
“Today is a significant moment for the social innovation ecosystem in Ireland. Pobal are proud to have had the opportunity to work alongside the Department of Rural and Community Development and Gaeltacht to support the establishment and development of the new Social Innovation Hub, we look forward to working collaboratively with ReThink and their consortium members as they take on their new role which will foster partnerships, share knowledge and will create impactful social innovation initiatives into the future.
“Similarly, Pobal acknowledges the successful grantees awarded funding under the Social Innovation Fund – Scaling Up Grants and the exciting opportunity to empower these organisations to scale their innovative solutions, enabling them to address social challenges more effectively and sustainably.”
A full list of successful projects is available here.
———————
Seolann an tAire Buttimer Mol Nuálaíochta Sóisialta na Réitigh Nua agus fógraíonn sé maoiniú do Thionscnaimh um Méadú
- Seolann an tAire Mol Nuálaíochta Sóisialta na Réitigh Nua i gCorcaigh
- Fógraíodh maoiniú os cionn €2.5 mhilliún freisin do thionscnaimh nuálaíochta sóisialta
- Leithdháileadh maoiniú níos mó ná €5 mhilliún chun tacú leis an éiceachóras nuálaíochta sóisialta in Éirinn agus é a fhás
Inniu (Dé Luain, an 3 Samhain 2025) sheol an tAire Stáit atá freagrach as Forbairt Pobail agus Carthanachtaí, Jerry Buttimer, Mol Nuálaíochta Sóisialta na Réitigh Nua ag ócáid i gCorcaigh. D’fhógair an tAire maoiniú freisin do naoi dtionscadal nuálaíochta sóisialta ón Scéim Deontas um Méadú.
Is é cuspóir foriomlán an Chiste um Réitigh Nua feabhas a chur ar an éiceachóras nuálaíochta sóisialta in Éirinn agus cómhaoinítear é trí Chiste Sóisialta na hEorpa + 2021-2027 (CSE+), tionscnamh Eorpach ina ndírítear ar riosca na bochtaineachta agus an eisiaimh shóisialta a laghdú, le béim ar ghrúpaí faoi mhíbhuntáiste.
Ag labhairt ag an seoladh, dúirt an tAire Buttimer:
“Is céim spreagúil chun cinn é seoladh Mhol Nuálaíochta Sóisialta na Réitigh Nua maidir leis an gcaoi a dtacaímid le nuálaíocht shóisialta in Éirinn. Feidhmeoidh an mol mar ionad don earnáil agus tacóidh sé le tionscnaimh nuálacha ar féidir leo aghaidh a thabhairt ar dhúshláin shóisialta agus a fhágfaidh lorg láidir ar phobail.”
Beidh ról lárnach ag Mol Nuálaíochta Sóisialta na Réitigh Nua i bhforbairt an éiceachórais nuálaíochta sóisialta in Éirinn. Cuirfidh an Mol tacaíochtaí tógála acmhainne agus maoiniú deontais ar fáil do thionscadail nuálaíochta sóisialta ag gach céim – ó smaointe go dtí méadú píolótach.
Leithdháileadh maoiniú €2.8 milliún don Mhol a chuirfidh Rethink Ireland ar fáil i gcomhpháirtíocht le hOllscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath, Líonra na gCuideachtaí Forbartha Áitiúla, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Coimisiún Forbartha an Iarthair agus The Wheel.
Ag labhairt ag an ócáid thar ceann an Mhoil Nuálaíochta Sóisialta, dúirt Mario Vottero (Rethink Ireland):
“Mar chuibhreannas, táimid bródúil as ár saineolas comhchoiteann agus ár bhfís chomhroinnte a chomhcheangal trí Réitigh Nua, ag obair le chéile chun an éiceachóras nuálaíochta sóisialta a neartú agus tionchar sóisialta buan a chruthú ar fud phobail ar fud na hÉireann”.
D’fhógair an tAire maoiniú €2.5 mhilliún freisin do naoi dtionscadal nuálaíochta sóisialta ón Scéim Deontas um Méadú. Cuireann an Scéim um Méadú maoiniú ar fáil do thionscadail nuálaíochta sóisialta cruthaithe atá réidh le fás agus tionchar níos mó a bhaint amach. I measc na heagraíochtaí a fuair deontas, tá:
- Sailing into Wellness, a fuair maoiniú €295,734.
- Spraoi agus Spórt, a fuair maoiniú €300,000.
- Éacht Shóisearach/Fiontraíocht Óige na hÉireann a fuair maoiniú €299,396.
Oibreoidh Mol Nuálaíochta na Réitigh Nua go dlúth leis na tionscadail chun tógáil acmhainne agus tacaíocht a sholáthar.
Ag fógairt na dtionscadal a fuair maoiniú, dúirt an tAire Buttimer:
“Tá áthas orm maoiniú €2.5 mhilliún a fhógairt do naoi dtionscadal nuálaíochta sóisialta ón Scéim Deontas um Méadú. Tá an chumhacht ag an Nuálaíocht Shóisialta pobail a athrú, ag tacú leo chun a bheith níos láidre agus níos acmhainní.
“Léirigh na tionscadail a fógraíodh inniu go n-oibríonn siad cheana féin agus go bhfuil siad réidh le fás. Tacóidh an Mol Nuálaíochta Sóisialta leis na tionscadail ag gach céim chun a dtionchar a uasmhéadú.”
Thacaigh Pobal leis an Roinn chun Ciste Nuálaíochta Sóisialta na Réitigh Nua a chur i bhfeidhm.
Dúirt POF Pobal, Anna Shakespeare:
“Lá suntasach is ea é seo don éiceachóras nuálaíochta sóisialta in Éirinn. Tá Pobal bródúil as deis a fháil oibriú i gcomhar leis an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta chun tacú le bunú agus forbairt Mol Nuálaíochta Sóisialta nua, agus táimid ag tnúth lena bheith ag obair i gcomhar le ReThink agus baill a gcuibhreannais agus iad ag glacadh lena ról nua a chothóidh comhpháirtíochtaí, a roinnfidh eolas agus a chruthóidh tionscnaimh nuálaíochta sóisialta a mbeidh tionchar acu amach anseo.
“Ar an gcaoi chéanna, aithníonn Pobal na deontaithe ar bronnadh maoiniú orthu faoin gCiste Nuálaíochta Sóisialta – Deontais um Méadú agus an deis spreagúil chun na heagraíochtaí seo a chumhachtú chun a réitigh nuálacha a mhéadú, rud a chuireann ar a gcumas aghaidh a thabhairt ar dhúshláin shóisialta ar bhealach níos éifeachtaí agus níos inbhuanaithe.”
Tá liosta iomlán na dtionscadal a bronnadh maoiniú orthu ar fáil ag an nasc seo.