Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My remaining questions relate mainly to the arts, live performance and broadcasting. I also have a question about funding for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht, to which I will return at the end.

There was an allocation of €25 million for the basic income for artists scheme. Much of the savings from that scheme have now been repurposed. A question arose last week and I think €12 million in savings is the relevant figure. The basic income for artists scheme did not kick in as scheduled and I expected the saving to be larger, given the delay. I have no problem with any of the areas on which the scheme is focused but the basic income for artists and the live performance supports were originally intended for performing artists and that section of the arts society. Most of the repurposed funding is going to cultural bodies, including Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum and the National Print Museum. All of those institutions require the extra money. The problem is that I would have expected the savings from the basic income for artists scheme to go specifically to artists through a hardship programme. Some artists who applied for the scheme did not benefit from it and have additional needs, especially considering the climate we are in and the increase in the cost of living.