Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Figures published recently by the CSO show that while average earnings increase in Ireland by 15.7% in the five years to June 2018, earnings for those who worked in the arts sector decreased by 3.5% in the same period. The 13.5% increase in arts and culture spending overall in the budget this year is welcome. The Taoiseach has given a commitment to double arts funding by 2022. A greater increase will be required year-on-year to meet that target. We are working from a chronic low base due to under-investment in the past decade in the arts sector.

See this speech in context