Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2023
332. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of participants in the basic income for the arts scheme who have dropped out since accepting a place on the scheme; and the number of participants forced to drop out as a result of the impact on their social protection payments. [25650/23]
View answer333. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of participants in the basic income for the arts scheme control group who have dropped out since accepting a place on the scheme; and the number of participants in the control group forced to drop out as a result of the impact on their social protection payments. [25651/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together.
The Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot was a key priority for me as Minister with responsibility for arts and culture. I must emphasise that I have no statutory function in relation to social welfare payments, this is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Social Protection.
When a participant (recipient or control group participant) wishes to withdraw from their place on the scheme, the Department does not make giving a reason mandatory. The question asked on the ‘Decline Offer Form’ is: If you wish, please explain your reason(s) for declining your offer of the BIA grant. This is helpful from a research point of view as it will record the reasons applicants declined the BIA Pilot payment.’
Having begun with 2000 recipients there are currently 1996 people receiving the BIA payment. To date no recipients who have withdrawn from the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Research Scheme withdrew as a result of impact on social protection payments.
The Control Group started with 997 participants and there are currently 992 participants on the Control Group. To date no Control Group members have withdrawn from the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme stating that this is as a result of impact on their social protection payments.
