Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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942.To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the proposals to extend the basic income for the arts pilot scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32660/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Basic Income for the Arts pilot was a key policy objective for me. Since becoming Minister, I have been determined to focus on supporting professional arts practice and demonstrating to artists that they are valued, that their work is appreciated and that the contribution they make to enhancing all of our lives is understood.

Accordingly, in line with that commitment to supporting artists, in the last four years I have delivered the following:

• funding for the Culture programme in my department has grown by over 90%
• funding for the Arts Council has grown by 68%
• funding for Screen Ireland has grown by 88%
• funding for Culture Ireland has grown 65%
• funding of €105 million is in place for the Basic Income for the Arts Research Programme
• funding for National Cultural Institutions has increased by over 50%
• we are supporting the provision of new artist workspaces in Dublin City and elsewhere