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

The basic income for artists, BIA, pilot scheme has been introduced following extensive consultation with the arts sector to assess how such a scheme can best support professional arts practice in Ireland. The associated research programme will capture data on all aspects of the scheme to inform future policy responses to the needs of the sector. This will include the interaction of the €325 per week payment with social welfare supports, which are a matter for the Department of Social Protection. Feedback on the scheme from recipients to date is overwhelmingly positive but, of course, I have sympathy with any recipients who may be experiencing difficulty regarding social welfare issues. That is why the research element of the BIA scheme is of such importance.

The issues raised by the Deputy relate primarily to the manner in which social welfare schemes assess income from other sources. These are matters for the Minister for Social Protection under various chapters of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended. Any changes to the social welfare code would require amendments to the Social Welfare Act, for which I have no statutory responsibility, and would be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. Social welfare legislation obliges every claimant or beneficiary to notify the Department of Social Protection of any change in circumstances. This includes the acquisition of any new income, such as the basic income for artists. My Department highlighted this obligation in the guidelines and FAQs for the scheme. When accepting a place on the scheme, applicants were strongly advised to investigate what their own particular tax and social welfare situation would be should they receive payment.

The overarching objective of the BIA scheme is to address the earnings instability that can be associated with the intermittent, periodic and often project-based nature of work in the arts. It aims to ensure that participants retain a steady and predictable income during the pilot and help artists develop self-sustaining creative practices. The scheme is also an opportunity to conduct that in-depth research into the pay and living conditions of Ireland's artists. It was a key priority for me as Minister with responsibility for arts and culture. I look forward to seeing the results of the research programme underpinning the pilot. Publication of the research should commence this summer.

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