Bríd Smith
Question:72. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans for a universal basic income for artists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21963/21]
View answerWednesday, 28 April 2021
Questions (72)
Written answers
The Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce report titled Life Worth Living, was published in November 2020 and made ten recommendations for the sector. The recommendations included a proposal to pilot a universal basic income scheme for a three-year period in the arts, culture, audiovisual and live performance and events sectors. The Taskforce was of the view that a pilot basic income would keep the sector intact, minimising the loss of skills and contributing to its gradual regrowth, with ongoing benefits: social and economic, local and national.
This is an exciting proposal and has been the subject of positive commentary both nationally and internationally. We can work now to see how it can be enhanced.
An oversight group has been established to deal with and examine how the pilot for artists can be done - and the Ministers within the relevant departments are supportive of this proposal being examined. Any action on a pilot basic income scheme will not come solely from my Department. Like many financial supports before and during the pandemic, a wider cohort in government must assess the strengths and weaknesses of any such scheme and any decision on how it is funded.
I believe the arts sector represents an appropriate area for a pilot basic income scheme for many reasons. It is characterised by low, precarious and often seasonal income. Artistic and creative work is intrinsically valuable to society; it includes a broad mix of employment types.
Separately, the Programme for Government contained a commitment to request the Low Pay Commission to examine Universal Basic Income, informed by a review of previous international pilots, and resulting in a universal basic income pilot in the lifetime of the Government.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has requested the Low Pay Commission to examine the commitment in the Programme for Government and the Commission has agreed that this request will form part of its workplan for 2021. The terms of reference for the study on Universal Basic Income are currently being finalised by the Commission and research is due to begin shortly.