Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2021
51. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the way the universal basic income payment will be distinguished from a working age payment that is also being discussed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47918/21]
View answerThe Economic Recovery Plan, which the Government published in June 2021, contains a commitment to bring forward a proposal for a pilot basic income scheme for artists. This follows publication of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce report - 'Life Worth Living' - in November 2020 which included a recommendation to pilot a basic income scheme for a three-year period in the arts, culture, audiovisual and live performance and events sectors. The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has lead responsibility for this commitment.
The Programme for Government contains a separate commitment to engage in research, drawing from international experiences, on the best approach to piloting a universal basic income during the lifetime of the Government, via the Low Pay Commission. The matter of a universal basic income, which would apply economy-wide, is a matter for my colleague the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
In addition, 'Pathways to Work 2021-2025' was published by the Government in July 2021. Under Pathways to Work, my Department will progress the delivery of a working age payment modelled on the Working Family Payment. The Working Family Payment is a payment to low income families with children. Under the scheme, the rate of payment a person receives is a percentage of the difference between their actual earnings and defined thresholds for their family size.
The rationale in developing a working age payment is to create a greater link between welfare payments and employment earnings such that a person will always experience an increase in income where they take on additional work.
The basic income pilot scheme for artists will apply only to that cohort, whereas the other schemes will have a wider scope.
