Ireland: the third sector

The study Hidden Landscape, First Forays into Mapping Non Profit Organisations in Ireland carried out in 2006 by the Centre for non Profit Management at Dublin’s Trinity College, says that there are over 24,000 non profit organisations in Ireland, 41% of which with Charity (CHY) status and one-third (32.6%) being companies limited by guarantee. This research project is the largest survey on Irish non profit sector ever conducted. The profile of the non profit sector that emerged from the report is based on 1,975 Irish non profits respondents.

The Report The Social Economy in the European Union commissioned by the European Economic and Social Committee in 2005 says that social economy in the Republic of Ireland is made up of 2,790 entities of which:
– 112 foundations;
– 1500 social enterprises;
– 100 mutual Benefit Societies;
– 997 cooperatives (agricultural cooperatives, wholesale cooperatives and cooperatives bank).

When it comes to the geographical distribution of the sector, the majority of non profits are based in the provinces of Leinster and Munster in the South of Ireland.
Almost half of the organisations are gathered in counties with urban centres:
– 27% are located in Dublin,
– 9% in Cork,
– 6% in Galway
– 5% in Limerick.

The Irish non profit sector can be considered to be mature as the average age of non profit organisations is around 30 years. However, over 50% have been established in the last 17 years and just less than one quarter before 1970.

By fields of activity, Irish Non profit organisations mostly operate in the following fields:
– 21.9% sports and recreation;
– 19.5% development and housing
– 16.1% social services
– 10.2% arts culture and heritage

Sources of income
As Trinity College’s Centre of non profit management reveals in its 2006 study into the sector, First Forays into Mapping Non Profit Organisations in Ireland, the majority of Irish non profits depend on public funding. The breakdown on sources of income for non profits is as follows:
– 60% comes from State funding,
– 20% are fees,
– 10% comes from private donations,
– 8% are deposit and 3% comes from membership fees.
Considering the proportions of state funding by type of activities, organisations that deliver health, social, education and research services depend more on state funding than others.