Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

With Brexit coming down the tracks, I appreciate that it is incumbent on all of us to be prudent but artists are a huge asset to us nationally and should be treasured. We should also put our money where our mouths are and invest in artists. Budget 2018 was a dismal budget for the arts sector but budget 2019 represented a significant improvement on that. There was, however, one major issue, which was the disconnect between the increase in funding for capital expenditure, which was a 39% increase, and the increase in current expenditure, which was a mere 6%. At the time, I raised the point that the Government policy on arts and culture was focused on capital projects with little investment for the artists and their work. Will the Minister assure the House that budget 2020 will at least put the artist at the centre of its budget demands?

Has the Minister sought to develop any policy, funding or employment framework that would help to improve artists' pay and conditions, including access to and support of benefits? There is little point in having our galleries and stages without the artists or actors to exhibit or perform. In January the Theatre Forum review of artists' pay and conditions was published. While not surprising, the findings were nonetheless depressing. I believe that the opportunity and time has come to ensure our artists at least have an opportunity to have a sustainable income.

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