Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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16. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when successful applicants for the basic income for artists will be informed of their selection and start to receive funding; the supports that will be provided to assist the recovery of applicants not selected; when they will be issued; and the resolution that has been reached between her Department and the Department of Social Protection to ensure artists with disabilities can participate fully in the scheme without losing essential social protection payments and supports. [32283/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Demand for the basic income for the arts pilot research scheme has been very strong with just over 9,000 applications received by the closing date of May 12^th. 

I am very encouraged by the level of interest from artists and creative arts workers interested in participating in the pilot scheme.  Assessment of the applications has begun and this process will take at least 6-8 weeks given the high volume of applications.  Once assessed for eligibility, all eligible applicants will be entered into an anonymised random sampling process to choose the 2,000 scheme participants.  I expect payments to commence during Q3 depending on the length of time it takes to complete the eligibility checks, selection process and return of grant documentation from successful applicants. 

I am very pleased with the huge level of enthusiasm for the basic income for the arts pilot scheme and am delighted that over 9,000 artists and creative arts workers were willing to participate in this innovative research project. This heralds a new approach to the way the State funds and recognises  artists and I look forward to seeing the data and findings of the research during the pilot.

As the Deputy will be aware the pilot scheme is a three-year research programme to examine the impact a basic income style payment could have on artists and creative arts workers and their creative practice. It will not be possible to provide funding to all eligible applicants under the scheme as it is a pilot programme.  The data and research gathered as part of the pilot will form the evidence base for any future basic income for the arts policy.

I must reiterate that eligibility for social welfare supports is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection. However, 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. That means that the basic income for the arts will be treated like any other income a person on social welfare earns from employment.  

The actual impact of the Basic Income on a person’s welfare entitlements will depend on each individual’s circumstances, successful applicants will need to engage with the Department of Social Protection on the matter before accepting the Basic Income payment.