Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's commitment and that of others such as my colleague, Deputy Kerrane, who also raised questions on this issue.

When will the discussions conclude? This scheme was supposed to be rolled out early in the first quarter. We are past the early part of the first quarter at this stage. The discussions around this issue need to conclude in order that reassurances can be given to those artists who wish to avail of the scheme or allow them at least to put their names forward and, it is hoped, be part of the pilot, in particular those who are struggling not only with low incomes anyway but also the additional challenges a disability would raise. They are the ones who have raised this issue with me continually and who feel they may be excluded or sidelined and lose their medical card or some of the other benefits that help them ease the burden of a disability.

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