Written answers
Tuesday, 8 February 2022
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Benefits
Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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466. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the difficulties faced by disabled artists trying to access social protection payments and the basic income for artists; if her attention has been drawn to the implications that this payment will have on social protection payments already received by disabled artists, in particular on the fact that while the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media will not means test the basic income for the arts payment, the Department of Social Protection will take the basic income for the arts payment into account for means tested disability payments and as the proposed basic income for the arts payment is €325 per week, this will exceed the income threshold for primary supports and therefore disabled artist will lose their primary supports if they avail of the basic income for the arts scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6541/22]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Arts and Culture Taskforce recommended the introduction of a pilot basic income scheme for artists. This was reflected in the National Economic Recovery Plan. Budget 2022 included an announcement of €25 million to pilot a new Basic Income Guarantee scheme for artists.
My colleague the Minister for Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has lead responsibility for this initiative and the matter is being progressed by Minister Martin and her Department.
Any issues regarding the interaction between the new pilot payment and existing payments from my Department will fall to be addressed in due course as work on the proposed pilot is progressed.
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