Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2017
322. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of Aosdána members who applied for Cnuas funding in each of the years 2014 to 2016, inclusive, who were refused a Cnuas; and the reason for these refusals. [31558/17]
View answerAosdána is an initiative established by the Arts Council in 1981 to honour creative artists who have made a significant contribution to the arts in Ireland. There are currently some 250 members of Aosdána. Individual members of Aosdána can qualify for a means-tested payment known as the Cnuas if they are resident in Ireland, are full-time practising artists and if their income is below the threshold for qualification. Details of Aosdána membership including the names of members who receive funding are published every year in the Arts Council's Annual Report and on the Aosdána website at www.aosdana.ie.
Operation of the scheme is the responsibility of the Arts Council and my Department has no role in relation to it.
