Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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546. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment regarding the basic income for artists scheme, if all those in receipt of this payment prior to Budget 2026 remain on the scheme; how this will be administered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55089/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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547. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the basic income for artists scheme, if an expansion of the scheme is under consideration now that the scheme has been given a more permanent footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55090/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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548. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment regarding the basic income for artists scheme, if the control group that had previously been given an annual payment of €650 instead of the weekly payment will be brought into the full benefits of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55091/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 546, 547 and 548 together.

I am delighted to have secured an allocation for a successor scheme to the Basic Income for the Arts pilot as part of Budget 2026. While the detail of the future scheme will need to be agreed by Government, this is a major milestone for the arts in Ireland and I am particularly pleased that the research my Department conducted provided Government with a clear evidence base upon which to make that decision.

With an allocation of €18.27m in my Department’s 2026 Estimate, I look forward to the design and delivery of the successor scheme next year. Based on that allocation the scheme will support the practices of 2,000 artists in 2026 at €325 per week, with payment beginning in Q4 2026.

I can confirm that the BIA pilot scheme will end in February 2026, which is when the final pilot payment will be made to the current cohort of recipients. While eligibility is not yet finalised, a new cohort of recipients will be selected based on eligible applications for the successor scheme.

Stakeholder consultation and engagement with other relevant Government Departments on the design of the new scheme will continue to determine details such as the duration, eligibility and selection method, the details of which have not yet been decided.

I plan to bring proposals to Government and aim to publish details of the eligibility criteria and parameters of the successor scheme later this year once they have been agreed by Cabinet.

The research has consistently demonstrated both the positive impact the BIA has had for those in receipt of it and how difficult it is to work as an artist in Ireland given the income precarity prevalent in the sector. The BIA successor scheme will help to sustain the careers of those artists who will receive it and retain their talent in the arts sector.

Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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549. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if participants currently in receipt of the basic income for the arts pilot scheme will be retained under the new successor scheme announced in Budget 2026; If so, the duration they will continue to receive the payment; if there will be a defined cut-off point for current participants; if they will be eligible to reapply under the new scheme; the way in which the new intake of recipients will be selected and awarded places under the revised scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55096/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I am delighted to have secured an allocation for a successor scheme to the Basic Income for the Arts pilot as part of Budget 2026. While the detail of the future scheme will need to be agreed by Government, this is a major milestone for the arts in Ireland and I am particularly pleased that the research my Department conducted provided Government with a clear evidence base upon which to make that decision.

The research has consistently demonstrated both the positive impact the BIA has had for those in receipt of it and how difficult it is to work as an artist in Ireland given the income precarity prevalent in the sector. The BIA successor scheme will help to sustain the careers of those artists who will receive it and retain their talent in the arts sector.

With an allocation of €18.27m in my Department’s 2026 Estimate, I look forward to the design and delivery of the successor scheme next year. Based on that allocation the scheme will support the practices of 2,000 artists in 2026 at €325 per week, with payment beginning in Q4 2026.

I can confirm that the BIA pilot scheme will end in February 2026, which is when the final pilot payment will be made to the current cohort of recipients. While eligibility is not yet finalised, a new cohort of recipients will be selected based on eligible applications for the successor scheme.

Stakeholder consultation and engagement with other relevant Government Departments on the design of the new scheme will continue to determine details such as the duration, eligibility and selection method, the details of which have not yet been decided.

I plan to bring proposals to Government and aim to publish details of the eligibility criteria and parameters of the successor scheme later this year once they have been agreed by Cabinet.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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550. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timelines for applications and commencement of the successor scheme to the basic income for the arts scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55109/25]

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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551. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the successor scheme to the basic income for the arts scheme will provide the same level of support to the same number of artists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55110/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 550 and 551 together.

I am delighted to have secured an allocation for a successor scheme to the Basic Income for the Arts pilot as part of Budget 2026. While the detail of the future scheme will need to be agreed by Government, this is a major milestone for the arts in Ireland and I am particularly pleased that the research my Department conducted provided Government with a clear evidence base upon which to make that decision.

The research has consistently demonstrated both the positive impact the BIA has had for those in receipt of it and how difficult it is to work as an artist in Ireland given the income precarity prevalent in the sector. The BIA successor scheme will help to sustain the careers of those artists who will receive it and retain their talent in the arts sector.

With an allocation of €18.27m in my Department’s 2026 Estimate, I look forward to the design and delivery of the successor scheme next year. Based on that allocation the scheme will support the practices of 2,000 artists in 2026 at €325 per week, with payment beginning in Q4 2026.

I can confirm that the BIA pilot scheme will end in February 2026, which is when the final pilot payment will be made to the current cohort of recipients. While eligibility is not yet finalised, a new cohort of recipients will be selected based on eligible applications for the successor scheme.

Stakeholder consultation and engagement with other relevant Government Departments on the design of the new scheme will continue to determine details such as the duration, eligibility and selection method, the details of which have not yet been decided.

I plan to bring proposals to Government and aim to publish details of the eligibility criteria and parameters of the successor scheme later this year once they have been agreed by Cabinet.