Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 May 2026
63. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will extend the basic income for artists scheme to all eligible applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33160/26]
View answerIn February I was delighted to announce that the Government had agreed to a successor scheme to the Basic Income for the Arts pilot. Guidelines for the new scheme were published by my Department on April 1st. The applications portal opened on April 15th and will remain open until May 12th. The BIA will provide 2,000 professional artists with a weekly payment of €325 for a period of three years.
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 clearly demonstrated both how precarious and difficult it is to be an artist and also the positive benefits for society as a whole if we invest in our artists.
The focus of the successor scheme is to support professional artists whose creative practice is based in Ireland.
With an allocation of €18.27 million for 2026, my Department is in a position to fund 2,000 artists. We have seen strong demand for the scheme with approximately 3,000 applications already submitted, under the pilot scheme over 8,200 eligible applications were received. While I would like to be in a position to fund all eligible applicants, that is not possible within available resources. However, I believe that making this scheme permanent is the first step in embedding it and I would hope to increase the number of artists in receipt of the payment as over time should resources permit.
Assessment for eligibility and the selection of successful applicants for the scheme will begin once applications close on May 12. I expect payments to begin before the end of the year.
This is a ground-breaking support for the arts in Ireland and recognising the importance of supporting artistic practice and makes Ireland a world-leader in how we support our artists and culture and will help to sustain the careers of those artists who will receive it and retain their talent in the arts sector.
I encourage artists from every background and every corner of the country to apply for the Basic Income for the Arts. I am pleased to be the Minister responsible for making this support for professional artists permanent.
