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Social Welfare Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021

Tuesday, 15 June 2021

Questions (870)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

870. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the way the artists pilot scheme for social protection has been developed since 2017; the number of artists who have been recipients under the scheme each year since it was established; the cost of the scheme each year since it was established; and her plans to extend the programme. [31098/21]

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Written answers

The Artist Pilot Scheme was launched in mid-2017 for professional writers and visual artists as part of the whole of Government Creative Ireland programme while I had Ministerial responsibility for the Arts. A key feature of the initiative under the Jobseeker's Allowance scheme is that it acknowledged the status of self-employed visual artists and writers and gave them a 12 month window to focus on building up their work before they become subject to labour market activation which is mandatory for most recipients of jobseeker payments.

A review of the pilot was completed in 2019 in consultation with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht which recommended that it should be established as a permanent scheme and extended to other professional artistic disciplines. In September 2019 the scheme was established as a permanent Professional Artist Scheme under Jobseeker's Allowance and extended to a wide range of self-employed professional artists such as those working in theatre and music.

To avail of the scheme, a professional self-employed artist must provide a certificate or declaration from their professional body as to their status as a professional artist. The professional artist must also be registered as self-employed with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and at least 50% of the person’s income should have been derived from their art in the preceding year.

The table shows the number of Professional Artist recipients on the scheme at the end of each year for the period from 2017 to 2020 and the current number of recipients on the scheme.

End of Year

Artists on the scheme

2017

25

2018

49

2019

97

2020

95

2021 (June)

91

There are no costs specifically associated with the artist scheme, which is provided for under the Jobseeker's Allowance scheme.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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