Ms Maureen Kennelly:

In terms of the budget, we will need more. That is not a glib response. Luckily, we have been able to increase our funding to many organisations but we have a cost-of-living crisis, as members will know, our funding was very static for several years, and now we have increased demand because of the basic income for artists. If we are to properly see these people realise their potential in the coming years, then we are going to need a significantly greater budget. We will obviously be talking to Department officials in the coming weeks and months in a very detailed way around that.

On the application process, we are investing, with capital from the Department, in a new platform. It is taking longer than we would like. It will come; it will arrive. In the meantime, this week we have advertised for an access officer because we know it is difficult. We want to change it, believe you me. We want to simplify it.