Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

A total of €25 million was allocated for this year because we knew we would not have a full year of basic income and that it would take time to get the randomised process up and running to do the engagement. I welcome and appreciate the Deputy's constructive engagement throughout this process. He has been very supportive of this scheme, which I think comes from his and his family's direct experience of the arts. All will get the full three years of payment. That is guaranteed regardless of when it started. It is a three-year project. It started on 29 August 2022 and will be a three-year project. My plan is for the savings in 2022 will be re-purposed and we will give further consideration to that but it is guaranteed to be €35 million per year and to be a full three-year project.

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