Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)

First of all, it is interesting that we do not know the net cost. We know the cost but many of these recipients were on social welfare previously.

I ask the Minister to speak to the other aspect of this, namely, the impact it is having on the creative sector at present.

Much of the study, and the information, has been on the 2,000 recipients but there is a control group of 6,000 other individuals who applied for this income. I would be interested to know how those in the control group are experiencing being an artist in an economically difficult situation. If that information was available to the Opposition, it would be an important part of the discussion and the development of this fund. It is worrisome that there is no evidence as yet - maybe it is the Minister's plan - that the scheme will be expanded to the other 6,000 people who have applied for this. There are few income supports that are given at random to a small sample of the people who need them. Most income supports are given to everybody who needs them.

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