Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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35. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applicants that applied for the basic income for artists by the mid-point of the application window; and if this is in line with expectations. [22192/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I am advised that at the midpoint of the open period for applications (that is, day 15 of the 30 day period that the application portal is open), the Department had received 3530 applications, which is in line with expectations for the scheme at this point.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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36. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason no reassurances have been given to artists with disabilities that the basic income for artists will not push them over the means testing threshold for essential disability supports on which they rely; and her views that this discourages their participation. [22191/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Eligibility for social welfare supports is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection. 

I have been determined since the outset of the BIA pilot scheme that artists with disabilities would be in a position to participate to the greatest extent possible.  Accordingly, my Department has worked with the Department of Social Protection, to establish that the payment will be treated as earnings from self-employment and can be taken into account in earnings disregards that applies to many social welfare payments including Disability Allowance and the One-Parent Family Payment. 

Of course, each individual case will differ depending on other household income.

In the case of the Disability Allowance, it will be possible to for many people to avail of the basic income and retain their social welfare benefits in addition to the moneys received from the BIA Pilot Scheme.  As this will depend on each individual’s circumstances, they will need to engage with the Department of Social Protection on the matter.  The Department of Social Protection published a guide to the Interaction of the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme with DSP Payments  (www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd818-interaction-of-the-basic-income-for-the-arts-pilot-scheme-with-dsp-payments/#) on Gov.ie on 13 April to assist all applicants for BIA in receipt of DSP supports including those with disabilities. 

My Department has met with representatives from the disabled artists community to examine how best we can make artists aware of the position established between my Department and DSP in respect of DSP supports. My Department also has a dedicated email address to answer any questions that applicants may have about any aspect of the Scheme to assist artists and creative arts workers with queries about the Scheme.