Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

The Minister has advised me that he will meet shortly with the National Campaign For the Arts, NCFA, to hear its views on the scheme in detail. Department officials met the NCFA on 25 April last. It is important to note that the pilot is a research programme and that no decision has been taken as to the continuation of the basic income for the arts. The research evaluating the impact of the pilot scheme is ongoing. A Government decision will be required on a successor scheme. The pilot and the future of the basic income for the arts scheme will be decided when the final results of the research become available. This will provide the Government with the evidence upon which to base future decisions about the basic income for the arts. It is clear from the data, even at this stage, without all of the analysis being done, that it has had a positive impact. Ultimately, however, it will be a matter for the Government to decide what is going to happen.

Deputy Sherlock raised a specific issue. I will revert to the Department on that. I have been provided with information to the effect that the pilot is funded until the end of the year for those in the group that is already part of it. In any wider scheme, we will have to look at the wider impact. If there is a scheme to go beyond the pilot project, it will have to include everyone. Of course, there are budgetary issues that will arise and these will inform the Government's decision. I expect that this would be part of the next budgetary process and the round of Estimates in preparation for budget 2026.

I will bring the Deputy Sherlock's concerns to the attention of the Minister, although he is well aware of them because the Deputy has raised this issue on many occasions. I thank her for continuing to raise it. I have had a chance to meet with various artists who have really seen the value in such a scheme. They believe it supports them in their work. It is not a handout but is very much a support for the arts. Even in times of lesser finances we were able to support the arts sector generally. It is a really important part of our culture and heritage and will obviously remain important into the future.

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