Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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1. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department has conducted any analysis of the impact of the housing and accommodation crisis on the arts and artists since 2020; the dates and times of any correspondence or discussion between her and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the need for social and affordable housing for artists and arts workers; and the measures she has taken given her responsibility for tourism to reduce the cost of accommodation for touring artists. [24335/24]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister and the Department will be aware of the disastrous impact of the housing and accommodation crisis on the ability of artists to survive, to create, to perform and to tour for work. The question is threefold. Has the Minister analysed the impact of the housing crisis on the arts? Has the Minister discussed the impact with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien? What measures have been taken to reduce hotel costs for touring artists?

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I am well aware of the challenges facing artists, and many other people, in accessing affordable accommodation in Ireland. Improving housing supply and improving affordability is a priority of the Government as set out in the Government’s housing policy Housing for All as led by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This multi-annual, multibillion euro plan aims to improve Ireland’s housing system and deliver more homes of all types for people with different housing needs.

Support for the arts and professional arts practice has been a key priority for me as Minister. Last Monday, 27 May, I hosted the status of the artist in Ireland conference for artists and arts sector organisations. At the conference, I was glad to be able report that one year into the basic income for the arts, BIA, scheme pilot, research suggests that the BIA payment is having a consistent, positive impact on almost all indicators. This research has now been published and is providing for the first time a firm evidence base for future interventions to support the sector. It demonstrates both the challenges facing artists and also the positive impact of the basic income support, including on making ends meet, on well-being and on arts practice.

Last Monday's conference also included panel discussion around issues facing artists and the sector generally. Artist workspaces and housing needs in particular were discussion topics. I am very conscious of the pressures that artists and creatives face in finding suitable workspaces and affordable places to live. In a that context, I hope to announce very soon the opening of a new capital scheme by my Department where local authorities will be invited to apply for funding towards projects that provide artists’ workspaces in their towns and cities. Last June, I announced investment of €3 million towards a €9 million funding initiative with Dublin City Council that will see 60 artists provided with workspaces. On foot of ongoing engagement with the National Campaign for the Arts, NCFA, I anticipate that housing challenges facing those in the arts sector will feature prominently in the NCFA pre-budget submission this year. This will be considered in the context of the budget Estimates process for 2025 and the in the context of the Government's broader Housing for All policy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Housing is a major crisis and not just in the four years that the Minister has been the Minister as it has extended beyond that for many years. We also know that levels of homeownership amongst artists is a lot lower than among the general population and that artists depend more on private rental accommodation in our cities and in particular those who are working in the area of circus spectacle, street arts and the like.

The majority of artists under the age of 25 live with their parents, which is a much bigger figure than in the general public. The Minister's response referred to the status of the artist in Ireland conference where a discussion saw the potential options for artists such as co-operative housing. The Minister referred to artists' space but this is to carry out their creative work. They also need space for co-operative dwellings to allow artists to live near where they work or to live alone.

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Some of the statistics quoted by Deputy Ó Snodaigh are on foot of the research for the basic income for the arts pilot scheme. This shows its value. As I have said, the research element of it was of equal importance as the actual payment itself because we are gathering information on the real lived experience of artists. As I said at the conference, it seems that the issues that affect society seem to hit our artists even harder. This information will help inform future policy initiatives to support our artists.

It is also important to recognise the increases in resources for the arts sector in recent years. There were record allocations for the Arts Council, for Culture Ireland, for Screen Ireland, for Creative Ireland, and indeed that once-in-a-generation basic income for the arts pilot scheme. Everything I have done since I became Minister is in consultation with the arts community to help inform what is needed and to respond to that. This is how I will continue.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The accommodation crisis is so bad that travelling performers who were working at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre felt the need to put out a call to art lovers to offer spare rooms to put up artists for the weeks they were performing at the theatre. The daily room rate costs in Dublin hotels is around €210. This would mean two thirds of a week's wages under the basic scheme would go on accommodation just for one night. There is an urgent need for a bursary scheme to help those artists who are travelling and performing artists to cover their accommodation needs. There needs to be a lot more done on that basis, as well as on the point I raised, which is an acceleration of co-operative housing schemes and other schemes to ensure housing is available for artists. Otherwise they will leave our shores.

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy. I referred earlier to the increasing resources for the arts sector. These have really been in part a recognition of the increase in the costs, including the increase in the costs of accommodation. It is also worth noting in this regard that increases in support for these measures in my time as Minister has actually greatly outpaced inflation and represents a significant real increase in support across the arts sector. My Department also works with agencies and stakeholders in the tourism accommodation sector to support a sustainable industry that offers value for money options for holidaymakers and others, whether based here at home or visiting from abroad. Clearly supply is a critical consideration. Of note, therefore, are the reports that many hotels currently housing Ukrainians could return to public use during the summer months. While not all of these hotels may return as operators, it is clear that the Government's determination to move away from the use of tourism accommodation for humanitarian purposes is beginning to yield results. I hope this will have a positive impact on the artists. I will continue engagement with the stakeholders and with the NCFA and will see what the pre-budget submissions are.