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

I may have said this to the Deputy before on the basic income, but although the full €25 million for it was not spent this year, it is absolutely guaranteed that it is a €105 million programme over three years. It is therefore absolutely ring-fenced. To reassure the Deputy and members, the savings in relation to live entertainment were as a result of the recovery and did not arise as part of an attempt to reduce funding for the sector under any circumstances whatsoever. All applicants eligible under the requirements of each scheme were offered grants in 2022. The return to normal operating conditions allowed the sector an opportunity to generate box office income that in turn reduced the need for State supports. The State aid exemption due to Covid ended in June of this year and I referred to that earlier. I reassure the Deputy the savings were a result of recovery and not an attempt to reduce the funding.