Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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38. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures that are being examined to exempt qualifying arts sector workers from unsuitable activation measures during periods between arts work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47792/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department, as the Public Employment Services (PES), has a key role in the provision of activation measures, including a range of job placement, assistance and employment services, training programmes, employment subsidies and direct employment provision. The main goal of activation measures is to increase the employment opportunities for jobseekers and to improve matching between jobs and workers.

Persons in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment must fully engage with the activation process. Those in the activation process are also expected to avail of the range of supports provided during this process which includes education or training, employment support schemes, internships and other supports to help them into sustainable employment.

However, self-employed professional artists can apply for the scheme for professional artists on jobseeker’s allowance which is run by my Department. Artists on this scheme do not have to take part in the Department’s activation programme for one year.

This scheme acknowledges the specific status of self-employed professional artists and gives them a 12-month window to focus on building up their work in the arts sector, while retaining their jobseekers payment, before they are required to engage with Intreo's activation services and supports.

Professional artists can still avail of my Department's employment support services on a voluntary basis through their local Intreo Centre.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.