Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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98. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the basic income for the arts will be considered in Budget 2026; if the pilot scheme will be extended beyond 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34668/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government commits to assessing the Basic Income for the Arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. I appreciate the importance of the Basic Income support for artists, which is why last week I announced that Cabinet had agreed to my proposal to an extension of six months to allow for further evaluation of the pilot data. This will also give sufficient time to engage in stakeholder consultation and to evaluate the data which will provide the evidence base for Government to make decisions on the next steps.

The primary objective of the scheme is to help artists deal with precarious incomes and to prevent talent from leaving the sector for economic reasons. Evaluation of the pilot is and has been continuous, with participants completing a detailed survey every six months. My Department has been undertaking a comprehensive research programme based on this data.

I am aware that there is broad-based support for the scheme, and I have met with the NCFA (National Campaign for the Arts) to discuss the scheme. I intend to bring proposals for a permanent intervention to Cabinet as part of Budget 2026, based on the evidence arising from the research programme and stakeholder engagement.

The current scheme costs just under €35m per year to provide the payment to 2,000 recipients. The cost of the 6-month extension is €16.7m. The net overall cost to of the pilot to the Exchequer is likely to be less given the high number of BIA recipients who were previously on social welfare supports prior to the BIA, and a Cost Benefit Analysis currently underway should bring further clarity to the overall costs.

While the research phase of the pilot scheme is still ongoing, it is clear from evidence collected to date under the scheme that the BIA it is having a positive impact on participants.

I know that the BIA support is hugely valued by artists in receipt of it, it has also been the subject of much positive commentary at home and in an international context and makes an important statement about the value placed on the arts in Ireland.

A Government decision will be required on a successor scheme to the pilot, and the future of the BIA will be decided when the final results of the research are available.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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99. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will ensure that a successor scheme to the basic income for the arts pilot scheme will be introduced in 2026 in view of its value to artists across different disciplines and the need to support the artistic community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34716/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government commits to assessing the Basic Income for the Arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. I appreciate the importance of the Basic Income support for artists, which is why last week I announced that Cabinet had agreed to my proposal to an extension of six months to allow for further evaluation of the pilot data. This will also give sufficient time to engage in stakeholder consultation and to evaluate the data which will provide the evidence base for Government to make decisions on the next steps.

The primary objective of the scheme is to help artists deal with precarious incomes and to prevent talent from leaving the sector for economic reasons. Evaluation of the pilot is and has been continuous, with participants completing a detailed survey every six months. My Department has been undertaking a comprehensive research programme based on this data.

I am aware that there is broad-based support for the scheme, and I have met with the NCFA (National Campaign for the Arts) to discuss the scheme. I intend to bring proposals for a permanent intervention to Cabinet as part of Budget 2026, based on the evidence arising from the research programme and stakeholder engagement.

While the research phase of the pilot scheme is still ongoing, it is clear from evidence collected to date under the scheme that the BIA it is having a positive impact on participants.

I know that the BIA support is hugely valued by artists in receipt of it, it has also been the subject of much positive commentary at home and in an international context and makes an important statement about the value placed on the arts in Ireland.

A Government decision will be required on a successor scheme to the pilot, and the future of the BIA will be decided when the final results of the research are available.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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100. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the basic income for the arts (BIA) scheme will be continued in Budget 2026; if he plans to make the BIA scheme permanent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34717/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government commits to assessing the Basic Income for the Arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. I appreciate the importance of the Basic Income support for artists, which is why last week I announced that Cabinet had agreed to my proposal to an extension of six months to allow for further evaluation of the pilot data. This will also give sufficient time to engage in stakeholder consultation and to evaluate the data which will provide the evidence base for Government to make decisions on the next steps.

The primary objective of the scheme is to help artists deal with precarious incomes and to prevent talent from leaving the sector for economic reasons. Evaluation of the pilot is and has been continuous, with participants completing a detailed survey every six months. My Department has been undertaking a comprehensive research programme based on this data.

I am aware that there is broad-based support for the scheme, and I have met with the NCFA (National Campaign for the Arts) to discuss the scheme. I intend to bring proposals for a permanent intervention to Cabinet as part of Budget 2026, based on the evidence arising from the research programme and stakeholder engagement.

The current scheme costs just under €35m per year to provide the payment to 2,000 recipients. The cost of the 6-month extension is €16.7m. The net overall cost to of the pilot to the Exchequer is likely to be less given the high number of BIA recipients who were previously on social welfare supports prior to the BIA, and a Cost Benefit Analysis currently underway should bring further clarity to the overall costs.

While the research phase of the pilot scheme is still ongoing, it is clear from evidence collected to date under the scheme that the BIA it is having a positive impact on participants.

I know that the BIA support is hugely valued by artists in receipt of it, it has also been the subject of much positive commentary at home and in an international context and makes an important statement about the value placed on the arts in Ireland.

A Government decision will be required on a successor scheme to the pilot, and the future of the BIA will be decided when the final results of the research are available.

Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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101. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of people receiving the basic income for the arts, by county; and the total cost of the scheme, in tabular form. [34740/25]

Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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102. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the pilot basic income scheme for the arts will be made a permanent payment scheme through an annual budget allocation. [34741/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together.

The Programme for Government commits to assessing the Basic Income for the Arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. I appreciate the importance of the Basic Income support for artists, which is why last week I announced that Cabinet had agreed to my proposal to an extension of six months to allow for further evaluation of the pilot data. This will also give sufficient time to engage in stakeholder consultation and to evaluate the data which will provide the evidence base for Government to make decisions on the next steps.

The current scheme costs just under €35m per year to provide the payment to 2,000 recipients. The cost of the 6-month extension is €16.7m. The net overall cost to of the pilot to the Exchequer is likely to be less given the high number of BIA recipients who were previously on social welfare supports prior to the BIA, and a Cost Benefit Analysis currently underway should bring further clarity to the overall costs.

The following table provides details of the geographic location of those who were selected and those who currently remain on the scheme, receiving the payment.

While the research phase of the pilot scheme is still ongoing, it is clear from evidence collected to date under the scheme that the BIA it is having a positive impact on participants.

I know that the BIA support is hugely valued by artists in receipt of it, it has also been the subject of much positive commentary at home and in an international context and makes an important statement about the value placed on the arts in Ireland.

A Government decision will be required on a successor scheme to the pilot, and the future of the BIA will be decided when the final results of the research are available.

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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103. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the timeline for publishing the research findings from the basic income for the arts pilot; and when a decision on a successor scheme is expected. [34767/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputies will be aware, the Programme for Government commits to assessing the Basic Income for the Arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. The scheme has now been operating for almost three years and is underpinned by a robust research programme collecting data about all aspects of the lives of the artists and creative arts workers who are participating in the scheme.

Last week I announced that Cabinet had agreed to my proposal to an extension of six months to February 2026 to allow for further evaluation of the pilot data, which will provide the evidence base for Government to make decisions on the next steps. This will also give sufficient time to engage in stakeholder consultation.

The Programme for Government and the Government’s Research and Innovation Strategy note the importance of incorporating use of evidence into the policy development process, and of improving links between policy makers and researchers. This is a key programme to bring research and data to provide an evidence base for Government to make decisions on future policy for the arts.

The BIA research pilot is designed as a randomised control trial in order to make it possible to identify causality and has benefitted from the involvement of external researchers. This randomised control trial includes a Treatment Group of 2,000, that is the recipients of the payment, and a Control Group of 1,000 who are not in receipt of the payment.

This is the first large-scale randomised control test undertaken by a Government Department in Ireland and represents one of the leading impact evaluations underway in the Public Sector. Evaluation of the pilot is and has been continuous, with participants completing a detailed survey every six months. My Department has been undertaking a broad research programme, including:

• two papers based on baseline survey i.e. information about participants lives before they received the first BIA payment;
• two impact assessments have been published to date and my Department is currently preparing a report examining the first 24 months of the scheme, due to be published over the summer months; and
• an interview research paper, written by an independent researcher, was also published recently. This paper collects the experiences of 50 BIA recipients, who have been interviewed by a sociologist.