Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2021
235. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she is taking to address and ensure the ten main concerns raised by a group (details supplied) are prioritised in advance of the impending negotiations for Budget 2022 between her Department and the Department of Finance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47735/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the group to which she refers has sent copies of its pre-Budget Submission for 2022 to me and to my officials. I am familiar with the ten main concerns raised. Budget 2022 will be announced on 12 October 2021.
A number of the recommendations listed in the pre-Budget submission, that come within the remit of my Department are also contained in the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce report Life Worth Living, published in November 2020. 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. Other recommendations relate to increased funding to existing programmes and agencies.
As part of the Economic Recovery Plan launched on 1 June 2021, Government committed to bringing forward a proposal in response to the Taskforce recommendation for a basic Income pilot scheme for artists. I established an Oversight Group with the remit of addressing the outstanding recommendations of the Life Worth Living report. The Oversight Group was asked to prioritise the manner in which a Basic Income pilot scheme for artists could be delivered.
As the Deputy will be aware the Programme for Government committed to continue to reform and improve the Budgetary process in order to enhance Ireland’s budgetary framework. The budgetary reforms introduced in recent years, including Performance Budgeting and Equality Budgeting, are focussed on providing the evidence base to support the efficient and effective delivery of services that have a positive impact on people's lives. This work is being further enhanced with the development of the Wellbeing Framework for Ireland that can inform efforts to improve the impact of public policy.
As we emerge from the pandemic, I am committed to supporting the long-term sustainability of the arts and culture sectors. We have a unique opportunity to achieve these in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The arts have and continue to be among the most negatively impacted sectors and in this context, I am future focussed on the recovery of the culture sector.
Finally, I can inform the Deputy that both I and my Department's officials meet regularly with the group to whom the Deputy refers and I am meeting with them on these matters tomorrow.
