Gary Gannon
Question:31. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will report on her meeting with an organisation (details supplied) and action taken thereafter. [47586/22]
View answerThursday, 29 September 2022
Questions (31, 59)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:59. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to increase supports for disabled persons in the arts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47513/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 59 together.
I recently met with DADA (Disabled Artists Disabled Academics) and the NCFA (National Campaign for the Arts) to discuss their pre-budget submission. Their submission raises a number of complex challenges faced by disabled artists when they return to work, are awarded an Arts Council grant, or have been offered a place on my Department’s new Basic Income for the Arts scheme (BIA). Income precarity has always been a feature of the arts sector and this is compounded for artists with disabilities who cannot afford to risk the loss of important benefits like medical cards.
The Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot is a new scheme initiated by my Department and the issue of disabled artists participating in this scheme it is a matter which I take seriously.
The BIA is a three-year research programme to examine the impact a basic income style payment could have on artists and creative arts workers and their creative practice. A key research question will be the impact such a payment could have on artists with disabilities.
I was determined since the outset of the BIA pilot scheme that artists with disabilities would be in a position to participate in the scheme to the greatest extent possible within the legislative framework to ensure the research captured the experience of disabled artists. To that end bilateral engagement has been ongoing between my Department and the Department of Social Protection, to get agreement that the payment will be treated as earnings from self-employment and can be taken into account in earnings disregards that applies to many social welfare payments including Disability Allowance. That means that the basic income for the arts will be treated like any other income a person on social welfare earns from employment. The actual impact of the Basic Income on a person's welfare entitlements will depend on each individual’s circumstances, applicants will need to engage with the Department of Social Protection on the matter.
These are complex cross-Government issues, and I have written to Minister of State Anne Rabbitte in this regard. The Deputy may be aware that Deputy Rabbitte, is leading on the whole-of-government response through the disability inclusion strategy steering group, which she chairs.
I have also written to the Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys in relation to the issue. The Department of Social Protection has also undertaken to engage directly with disabled artists who are selected for the pilot to help them understand the impact accepting the payment would have in their individual circumstances. Eligibility for income support payments other than the BIA, such as social welfare supports including payment to people with disabilities, is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection and I do not have any function in that regard.