Social Welfare Benefits

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Questions (571)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

571. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason for the decision to change to use of the term working age payment in the Pathways to Work 2021-2025 Strategy to describe that which had previously been described as a universal basic income pilot scheme for artists; the way this will affect other welfare payments; if this change means that the proposal plans to revive previous attempts to introduce a single working age payment as was put forward by former Ministers for Social Protection as part of austerity measures to replace other welfare supports and encourage the transition to work as described in the Pathways to Work document; and if the statement in the Pathways to Work Strategy that a person in employment will always receive more than they would if reliant on welfare alone under the proposal means that it is no longer intended for the basic income to involve providing the same unconditional payment regardless of means or income to artists, as had been previously suggested. [40731/21]

Written answers

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

The Pathways to Work Strategy and the issue of a Working Age Payment is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Social Protection.

The Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce report Life Worth Living, was published in November 2020 and made ten recommendations for the sector. The recommendations included a proposal to pilot a basic income scheme for a three-year period in the arts, culture, audiovisual and live performance and events sectors.

As part of the Economic Recovery Plan launched on June 1st, I was delighted to secure agreement from Government for a Basic Income Guarantee pilot scheme for artists. The Government recognises that bold steps are necessary for our invaluable and much treasured arts community to come back stronger than ever before. I continue to support the introduction of a Basic Income Guarantee pilot scheme for artists and have put in place measures to progress this policy.

I have established an Oversight Group with the remit of addressing the outstanding recommendations of the Life Worth Living report. The membership of the Group is drawn from Departments and Agencies which have the ability and wherewithal to make appropriate progress on the outstanding recommendations, including the Basic Income Guarantee pilot.

The Oversight Group is chaired by my Department and joined by representatives of the Departments of Finance, Social Protection, Public Expenditure and Reform as well as Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Directors of the Arts Council and Screen Ireland are also members alongside a representative of the County and City Managers' Association.

I have asked the Oversight Group to prioritise the manner in which a Basic Income Guarantee pilot scheme for artists will be delivered. As the work of the group has only recently begun it is too early to say with any certainty what the details of the pilot scheme will be.

Question No. 572 answered with Question No. 516.

Question No. 573 answered with Question No. 516.