Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2025
465. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the position regarding any research carried out by his Department into the potential cost of expanding the basic income for artists scheme to additional artists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37162/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to assessing the Basic Income for the Arts pilot (BIA) research scheme to maximise its impact, which is why recently 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 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 scheme 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. The research pilot is the first large-scale randomised control trial undertaken by a Government Department in Ireland and represents one of the leading impact evaluations underway in the Public Sector. To date the research programme has included:
• two papers have been published based on quantitative 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
• a qualitative research paper, written by an independent researcher, was also published which collects the experiences of 50 BIA recipients, who were interviewed by a sociologist.
It is clear from evidence collected to date, under the scheme that it is having a positive impact on participants. This data shows that the BIA payment is having a consistent, positive impact across almost all indicators - affecting practice development, sectoral retention, well-being, and deprivation.
In terms of ongoing evaluation of the scheme, work has recently begun with an external independent economic consultancy to prepare a full cost-benefit analysis of the BIA. This research will measure the costs and benefits arising from the BIA to determine its effectiveness prior to any decision on a successor programme.
A Government decision will be required on a successor scheme to the pilot, and I intend to bring forward proposals for a permanent intervention in the context of Budget 2026 discussions, based on the evidence arising from the research programme and stakeholder engagement.
