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

The Minister has made the point that the €1.2 million funding to enhance the work of the Arts Council to support performing artists and the €3.7 million funding are reallocations of funds. It is a bit disingenuous to say that the council's funding has been increased by €5 million when all the Minister has done is given it the remit to do what it should have been doing in the first place, which is to deliver Culture Night and creative schools.

The council is the main funding agency for arts and artists and it plays a critical role in directing funding. It was established by statute to do this. Research by Theatre Forum into pay and conditions for performing artists earlier this year showed that one third earn less than the minimum wage and that work in the performing arts sector is characterised by poor working conditions and precarious employment. It was hoped that budget 2020 would have a positive impact on the living conditions for artists. Can the Minister outline how she envisages the budget will improve the income for artists?

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