Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

276. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the basic income guarantee pilot scheme for artists as per the report by the oversight group which she previously advised was due at the end of July 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42149/21]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

280. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of her plans to introduce a pilot living wage for artists' scheme. [42338/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 280 together.

The Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce report Life Worth Living, was published in November 2020 and made ten recommendations for the sector.The recommendations included a proposal to pilot a basic income scheme for a three-year period in the arts, culture, audiovisual and live performance and events sectors. As part of the Economic Recovery Plan launched on June 1st, Government committed to a Basic Income pilot scheme for artists. 

I established an Oversight Group with the remit of addressing the outstanding recommendations of the Life Worth Living report. The membership of the Group is drawn from Departments and Agencies which have the ability and wherewithal to make appropriate progress on the outstanding recommendations, including the Basic Income Guarantee pilot.

The Oversight Group held its first meeting on May 27^th chaired by the Department and joined by representatives of the Departments of Finance, Social Protection, Public Expenditure and Reform as well as Enterprise, Trade and Employment.  The Directors of the Arts Council and Screen Ireland are also members alongside a representative of the County and City Managers' Association.

I asked the Oversight Group to prioritise the manner in which a Basic Income pilot scheme for artists could be delivered. The Group has provided me with a preliminary report on the different options and I will be discussing these with my senior officials in the coming days. Once I've had an opportunity to review I will go back to the Oversight Group to ask them to finalise the report.  I expect to be making a proposal for a Basic Income as part of the Budget 2022 discussions, after which further details should be available on how the pilot scheme will be progressed.