Ms Liv O'Donoghue:

As the Senator mentioned, precarity in the arts is not new. We have been experiencing precarity in the arts since long before this crisis. What the crisis has done is exacerbate it. So far, the PUP has been an extraordinary support and a real boon for the sector to keep people surviving. There are major concerns, however, about where we are going next with it. Certainly, the tiered payment levels are causing an awful lot of stress and concern within the sector. Many people are struggling to survive. We have a high cost of living in Ireland. For those who are struggling already, it has become a real struggle and they are concerned about whether they will be able to pay their rent or mortgage or support their families. A large number of our members contact us regularly and they are very concerned about what will happen next, particularly when the payment is reduced and, ultimately, phased out completely in April 2021. As we are aware, this virus will continue for some time, with projections showing it will be here until the end of next year, if not longer. How do we continue to support artists and arts workers and, essentially, keep them out of poverty? That is a huge concern.