Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is something on which we have been engaging with the Department of Social Protection. I thank the Deputy for his kind words about the basic income scheme. A lot of people are hearing about the support it is. I hope the three-year pilot will lead to more being done and that it will be rolled out more extensively. The research element of the basic income scheme will help strengthen the case for artists with disabilities. In addition to those who are receiving it, we have the control group as well who are not receiving it.

I am very aware of issues in general for artists with disabilities, not just with the basic income. This summer officials from my Department held in-person disabled artists stakeholder meeting which was very successful. We agreed to have regular engagement. That is something that has been happening, including with the Arts Council, Arts and Disability Ireland, Safe to Create, and with individual disabled artists. We have really increased that engagement. As Deputy Griffin says, a lot of the issues fall under the remit of the Department of Social Protection. The engagement is ongoing and we are seeking to get as much clarity as we can about how income from whatever source interacts with State benefits such as the social protection payments. The engagement is very much under way.