Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2017
393. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will liaise with the Minister for Social Protection to examine the supports for working artists in the social welfare system; if she will relax activation rules for working artists to allow them to support themselves in view of the fact they produce the art and cultural pieces for which Ireland is rightly proud. [4083/17]
View answerLast month, I announced that my Department in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection would devise a mechanism during 2017 to assist self-employed artists who have applied for Jobseeker’s Allowance.
I have been in contact with my colleague the Minister for Social Protection on the matter and officials of our two Departments have already begun working on this initiative in consultation with the Arts Council. The scheme will be a pilot scheme and is part of the Creative Ireland Programme which was launched by the Taoiseach and I and on 8 December last. Details of the pilot scheme will be announced as soon as possible.
