Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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101. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the second research report into the basic income for the arts pilot scheme will be completed and published, and if he will commit to a continuation of the scheme in some form following the pilot’s completion later this year. [22803/25]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The question relates to the second research report on the basic income for the arts pilot scheme. When will it be completed and when will a decision be made on the continuation or otherwise of the scheme?

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The programme for Government commits to assessing the basic income for the arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. The basic income for the arts pilot research scheme began with the first baseline survey in October 2022 and will conclude in August 2025. The data from the pilot will feed into Government consideration of the next steps. The Department is currently working on a report examining the first 24 months of the scheme and this report will be available before the end of the pilot. A further qualitative research paper, written by an independent researcher, will be published in the coming weeks. This paper collects the experiences of 50 recipients who have been interviewed by a sociologist. A cost-benefit analysis is also being undertaken at present.

While the research phase of the pilot scheme is still ongoing, it is clear from evidence collected to date under the scheme that it is having a positive impact on participants. Two impact papers have been published to date and are available on the basic income for the arts website on Gov.ie. This data shows that the basic income for the arts payment is having a consistent, positive impact across almost all indicators, affecting practice development, sectoral retention, well-being and deprivation. Artists in receipt of the support are typically able to devote more time to their art, produce more pieces of work and experience a boost to their well-being through greater life satisfaction and reduced anxiety, and are protected from the precariousness of incomes in the sector to a greater degree than those who are not receiving the support.

I assure Deputy Ó Snodaigh and the sector that I fully appreciate the importance of basic income support for artists. I know there is broad-based support for the basic income for the arts research project in the House. I will be meeting shortly with the National Campaign for the Arts to hear its views on the scheme in detail. My officials met with the campaign on 25 April. I am acutely aware that the pilot is due to conclude in August and it is my intention to make an announcement on the next steps in the coming weeks.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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It would be welcome that there is some type of confirmation of where next for the basic income for artists. It is to end in August, which is strange because it is a month earlier than the full three years, given it did not start until October 2022. The real question is the timeline. These reports are needed before an assessment can be fully made as to whether to continue this or extend it. While these reports are due at some stage between now and, I presume, budget day, can we be assured there will not be a cliff edge where the scheme ends and the funding finishes altogether? If that happens, those on the basic income scheme will see it end within the three years and there will be no additionality for them or income for those who are expecting to go on another scheme.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I am conscious of the concerns that people in the scheme have. I pay tribute to my predecessor in this area, Catherine Martin, who did a huge amount of work to initiate the whole concept. It was born out of a time when the country was bedraggled, with Covid and everything else, but it has proven its worth in terms of the qualitative and quantitative amount of work that can be produced by people who, as I said in the earlier part of the response, are protected from worry about the precarious nature of their finances.

There are a number of steps that we have to take. First, there are a number of hurdles that I have to jump. As I said in my earlier response, I will hopefully be in a position shortly to make an announcement with regard to the scheme's future. I know the month of August is not that far away and people want to see certainty. It is my commitment to try to make sure we get the best possible outcome for the scheme going forward. It was a pilot but, as the Deputy will appreciate given he is the Chairman of an Oireachtas committee, we have the upcoming budget negotiations with regard to the 26 expenditure ceilings. This is a priority for me and for the Department, and I want to use the opportunity in the Dáil today to make that clear.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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There is concern out there and the Minister will probably get that when he meets the National Campaign for the Arts. Both his own party's manifesto and that of Fianna Fáil promised to continue it, yet the programme for Government looks to assess it. That assessment is to be done between now and budget day, which is a very tight timeframe. If it falls, potentially at the end of August, that means there will be no basic income for artists until the budget gives effect to a new one or to something else.

The concern is this very tight timeframe. In the initial roll-out of the basic income for artists scheme it took many months for new participants to be assessed. If it were to be rolled out again it would create a lacuna at the end of August rather than a continuation, a new round of another 2,000 artists or an extension of it.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Ó Snodaigh is right that a number of different things have to be considered. As Deputy Ó Snodaigh has said, these include whether it is the same group, a new group, a wider group, or a smaller group. All of this has to be assessed. The engagement I hope to have with the campaign will also help to inform me on this. Deputy Ó Snodaigh is also right that as two distinct political parties in advance of the election we made commitments on this. I am sure Deputy Ó Snodaigh will acknowledge that this was a very good scheme. It was introduced at a time when people did not expect it or fully understand what it would do but now can see what it has done and the value of it. My basic premise is to get the scheme, a scheme, or a version of the scheme continued. It would be very regressive if we did not have it. It will have to form part of budgetary discussions in the Department. I have five distinct areas of responsibility - arts, culture, communications, media and sports - and this is a priority for me with regard to the arts element of our budgetary discussions. I look forward to hearing the suggestions of the Opposition and I will engage with spokespersons, including Deputy Ó Snodaigh, off-line and outside of the House on their views on this and how the scheme could be changed, altered and improved.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Before I call on Deputy Malcolm Byrne to speak on Question No. 101, on behalf of Deputy Keira Keogh I welcome the students from Sancta Maria College in County Mayo and their teachers Mr. Connaughton and Ms Keane. They are very welcome to Dáil Eireann and we hope they enjoy their day.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Specifically on Question No. 101, I welcome the fact the Minister has stated clearly it is a priority to continue with the basic income for artists scheme. I agree with Deputy Ó Snodaigh that we are coming very quickly towards August. As a first priority for the 2,000 recipients of the basic income for artists scheme there needs to be an indication as to whether it will be continued for the same 2,000 people. We also need to have certainty on whether the current scheme will be extended or will it be opened to many more artists. I acknowledge the Minister's praise for the former Minister Catherine Martin on this. I welcome the Government's commitment on it but there is an urgency for the Government to make clear what will happen with the scheme.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I join the Leas-Cheann Comhairle in welcoming the students from County Mayo to see the Dáil and their people's house in live action. They are very welcome. With regard to Deputy Byrne's questions I covered most of them when answering Deputy Ó Snodaigh but I can go back over them again. It is a priority of ours and it is in the programme for Government to do an evaluation. It was in the manifestoes that we would proceed with it. Obviously we will have budgetary discussions from the summer onwards, in which I will engage with the Ministers, Deputies Chambers and Donohoe, on expenditure and taxation measures in the Department. On top of this we have an evaluation we must conclude. Both Deputies would agree that the basic thing the Dáil would expect would be to evaluate the existing scheme before I give any commitment one way or the other on a new scheme, a modified scheme or a continuation of a scheme. This work is under way and as soon as I have formulated all of this and gone through all of it, it is my intention to make an announcement fairly soon on the future of the scheme. I hope to be in a position to do this in a matter of weeks.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the answers the Minister has given and I appreciate that he will make an announcement. I understand he is awaiting the second report but in the first report, as the Minister acknowledged, quantitatively and qualitatively the basic income scheme for artists was viewed as a significant success. It is important for those in receipt of it that some indication is given to them as to whether after August they will be in a position to be able to continue with the basic income for artists scheme or whether the Minister plans to broaden it or restrict it. We are speaking about a couple of months and primarily for those on the scheme it is important to at least let them know what will happen.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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This is why I am doing what I am doing. I am going to try to do this as quickly as possible. All Deputies in all parties on both sides of the House would say it would be foolish in the extreme for me not to at least evaluate all of the reports that are available and will be available to the Department before I make a decision. As soon as I can do so I will do it and I will be back to the House. I am sure both Deputies will be forthright in their views once I have made a decision.