Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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126. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason the basic income for artists scheme was not means tested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47421/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Basic Income for the Arts is not a social protection support and therefore was not means tested. 

This is a three year research project and we are trialling a basic income model and one of the key characteristics of a basic income is that it is not means tested.  We will be collecting data on incomes of participants which will inform any future policy in this area. 

It is well established that artists suffer from low and precarious incomes and that pay and income are lower in the arts than other sectors, with most artists experiencing both low and precarious income.  This fact underpinned the Arts Council’s Paying the Artist policy to ensure artists were paid fairly for their work.

A 2018 report by Theatre Forum on pay and conditions in the sector indicated that 30% of artists and creative practitioners in the performing arts earned less than the National Minimum wage.  CSO data from the same period showed that average weekly earnings in the Arts, entertainment, recreation and other service activities sector were two thirds of the average across all sectors (€494.98 compared to €740.32).

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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127. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason an artist (details supplied) was not selected for the basic income for artists scheme; the way those selected were chosen; the additional supports available to those artists who are struggling to re-enter the arts following the loss of their employment as a result of Covid restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47453/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Over 9,000 applications were made under the pilot Basic Income for the Arts Scheme with over 8,200 assessed as eligible according to the published guidelines for the scheme.  Eligible applications were then included in a randomised anonymous selection process to choose the participants.  This process was overseen by EY acting as an independent verifier. Over 8,200 eligible applicants were included in the anonymised randomised selection to select the 2,000 BIA recipients and the control group of 1,000 participants.

I understand that the application referred to by the Deputy was assessed and found to be eligible and was included in the anonymised random selection for recipients. Unfortunately, this applicant was not selected to participate in the scheme. 

It is important to note that eligibility was not a guarantee of a place on the BIA. I understand that those who applied and were not successful are disappointed, however, as a pilot scheme the BIA is operating with a limited fund providing for 2,000 participants.

Artists struggling to regain employment in the arts sector may be eligible for the Scheme for Professional Artists as part of the Jobseeker’s Allowance operated  by the Department of Social Protection.  If they qualify, they do not have to take part in my Department’s activation programme for one year, allowing recipients to focus on their artistic work. The rates of payment are the same as for Jobseeker's Allowance.

Full details on how to qualify are available at the following link www.gov.ie/en/service/b5474f-professional-artists-on-jobseekers-allowance/

Unemployed artists who may not qualify for this particular scheme may still apply to DEASP under a wide range of Social Welfare Schemes and Services under it's Jobseekers programmes . These can be viewed at this link www.gov.ie/en/collection/490ac8-all-services-offered-by-the-department-of-employment-affairs-and-soc/#jobseekers