Tógfaidh me Ceist 15 agus Ceist 49 le chéile. I want to compliment the Deputy on the comprehensiveness of her question and on her personal sympathy and interest in the matters addressed therein.
The question of the perception of the role of the artist in society is a very important one. I believe that the arts and culture sector is now recognised as a dynamic and important aspect of our social, spiritual and economic life. For instance, artists today are increasingly regarded as self-employed persons and are treated on that basis. This creates certain problems. Under social welfare legislation, artists pay the same social insurance contribution as other self-employed people, i.e. Class S. This contribution covers them for old age contributory pension, widows contributory pension and orphans' contributory allowance. Similarly, in terms of health care, artists are covered on the same basis as any other resident of this State.
However, although there has been an improvement in the status of the artist in recent years I believe that, because of the special nature of the work they do and the often precarious nature of their livelihood, there is a need for additional supports. I am happy to offer the Deputy an assurance that I will be examining this question in the coming months.
With regard to generation of jobs through the arts, the Programme for a Partnership Government explicitly states that the arts will be part of overall job creation strategy.
The Deputy will be aware that there is very solid evidence of how easily — and, by comparative terms, cheaply — jobs are created in the arts. Also money is circulated through the local economy with a very strong multiplier effect.
I have long held the view that the arts can provide rewarding sustainable employment at a lower cost than other sectors of the economy, and that investment in the arts has significant benefits to other sectors such as tourism. Therefore, without in any way compromising the integrity and the special nature of artistic endeavours, I will be keen to maximise the economic benefits that accrue to the State from the activity of artists and I will be particularly keen to develop the potential for employment. To this end all the appropriate facilities of the State will be engaged, including the expertise of an Bord Tráchtála.
It is my determination to enhance the perception of the role of artists in society and increase respect for the work they do while at the same time integrating them into the dynamics of our economic life where they have so much to offer. I believe that this approach will help artists realise their full potential in conditions of reasonable security while playing their full part in the life of the nation.
