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Universal Basic Income

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021

Tuesday, 19 October 2021

Ceisteanna (410, 419, 421, 425)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

410. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the person or body that will be eligible for the pilot basic income for artists proposed in budget 2022; when she expects the scheme to deliver funds to artists; and if she will publish the costings and workings upon which an allocation of €25 million for the pilot scheme are based. [50756/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

419. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if live performance workers that have had their supports cut by over 50% from 2021 in budget 2022 will be eligible for the pilot basic income for artists scheme promised in the same Budget. [50966/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

421. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason €25 million was selected for use in the pilot basic income for artists in budget 2022 before the proposed stakeholder forum takes place to discuss which artists and creative arts workers will be eligible; and if she will outline the objectives the scheme should have. [50968/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

425. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the work undertaken to date by the oversight group responsible for developing the pilot basic income for artists; the number of times the oversight group has met since being formed to discuss the pilot scheme; and if she will publish the minutes of their meetings. [50972/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 410, 419, 421 and 425 together.

The Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce report Life Worth Living, was published in November 2020 and made ten recommendations for the sector. These recommendations included a proposal to pilot a basic income scheme for a three-year period in the arts, culture, audio-visual and live performance and events sectors. I believe the delivery of this pilot will be key to underpinning the recovery in the arts and culture sector and will provide much needed certainty to the artists and creatives who choose to avail of the pilot scheme.

I was delighted that as part of Budget 2022 I secured €25m for a Basic Income Guarantee pilot scheme for the arts and cultural sector. As Minister with responsibility for Arts and Culture, I am conscious of the value that this sector brings to all Irish citizens, which was particularly evident during the pandemic. The importance of Irish culture, Irish art and Irish productions as a whole cannot be understated in terms of its impact both internationally and at home. The Government recognises that bold steps are necessary for our much treasured arts, events and cultural community to come back stronger than ever before.

I established an Oversight Group to appraise the recommendations in the Life Worth Living report. Although the remit of the Oversight Group included the examination of all recommendations in the report, I asked that they prioritise the consideration of the Recommendation on a basic income guarantee pilot scheme for artists and arts workers as a priority.

The Oversight Group is chaired by my Department and joined by representatives of the Departments of Finance, Social Protection, Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Public Expenditure and Reform, as well as Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Directors of the Arts Council and Screen Ireland are also members alongside a representative of the County and City Managers Association.

The Oversight Group has met eight times to discuss the Basic Income pilot recommendation alongside the other nine recommendations. To assist in these discussions, the Oversight Group established a sub-committee to focus solely on the progression of the recommendation for the basic income pilot scheme. This sub-committee met nine times over the summer months to develop a number of options that could fulfill the requirements of a pilot scheme as set out in the Life Worth Living report.

The Oversight Group, with the research carried out by this sub-committee, has provided me with a preliminary report on the different options for a three year pilot scheme which I am currently considering.

A number of organisations have given presentations to the Oversight Committee in order to inform their considerations these include:

- the NCFA (the National Campaign for the Arts)

- Social Justice Ireland

- Praxis – the Artists Union

- Stephen Kinsella Economist in University Limerick who had done research in the area of artist basic income

In addition, Equity the actors union are due to present to the group this week.

This work is in addition to the policy development undertaken by my officials on this matter, including my Department's Strategic Policy Unit.

I envision that this pilot should launch in early 2022 and I believe it will bring new life and support to the Arts and Cultural Sector, after the difficult circumstances they have endured over the last year and a half.

I am happy to share the minutes of the Group's meetings with the Deputy and will publish these on my Department's website.

Question No. 411 answered with Question No. 404.
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