Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I am referring in particular to the music industry and to the large cohort of people who work in that sector in the sound, power and production areas.

Where they may be offered gigs throughout the summer, there might be two or three days of work, and that is through other Government supports for live music events through the Department of the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin. People taking up that work know it will be for only two or three days. They know their industry is not open fully. Will they be able to return onto the PUP at the end of that two-day or three-day gig they might get or a series of gigs throughout the summer? We know that that industry will not open up fully for some time. For example, I know of a sound engineer down in Wicklow who is at the top of his game and in high demand, but there is no work out there for him at the moment. If he gets offered a couple of days' work, he has to weigh up whether he will be back on jobseeker's at the end of that work. It is important he keeps his talent active and keeps his craft and his skills alive, but he has to weigh up the benefits of taking on that work.

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