Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 February 2022
4. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the additional cost of living for those with disabilities, as highlighted in the Cost of Disability report by a company (details supplied), will be factored into the forthcoming basic income for artists scheme to ensure artists with disabilities have equal support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10698/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Basic Income for the Arts Pilot scheme will run over a three year period and the intention is to research the impact a basic income would have on artists and creatives work patterns by providing the opportunity to participants to focus on their practice, and to minimise the loss of skills from the arts as a result of the pandemic.
Stakeholder engagement has been core to the policy development process and this included a stakeholder forum on 15 December 2021, where over 150 participants from 50 artists and arts workers resource and representative bodies came together to discuss the proposal. This included representatives from disabled artists organisations and disabled artists.
Following that forum, I held a public consultation throughout the month of January. This public consultation closed three weeks ago and my Department received a significant number of submissions, reflecting the high level of interest in this new policy intervention. My officials are currently reviewing the submissions and a report on the consultation is currently being prepared which will be published in the coming weeks.
The impact of such a scheme on artists with disabilities is a theme that has been raised throughout the consultation and I can assure the Deputy that it is a matter I take very seriously.
I am aware of the report on the Cost of Disability to which the Deputy referred and which was commissioned by my colleague the Minister for Social Protection. The findings of the research have implications for many areas of public policy including the delivery of care services, health, housing, education, transport and income supports. The Government has referred the report on the Cost of Disability to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group. This Steering Group is chaired by my colleague the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte. All Departments have been asked to consider actions that are currently being implementing and any proposed new actions that they will be undertaking in the context of the findings of the Report.
I can assure the Deputy that the issue of artists will disabilities is something which I am focused on. I believe that the Basic Income for the Arts has the potential to help artists and creative arts workers with disabilities overcome labour market barriers by creating a self-sustaining creative practice, operating on a self-employed basis.
