Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The arts can often be sidelined, especially in the current economic climate of many sectors facing cuts. Those who are trying to earn a living as artists often struggle to survive and must supplement their incomes by other means. Artists who are in their 50s cannot be confident of security in their old age. What does the Minister propose to address the issue of struggling, aging artists? Has she investigated the successful models developed in other European countries?

Has the Minister looked into this? Brilliant minds fall by the wayside all too easily due to lack of support and there is little in the way of facilities to support people as they rise and progress through the arts. Where are all our young and mid-career artists?

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