Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:528. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth to consider and respond to concerns regarding an aspect of design for a new school building (details supplied). [55440/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (528)
Freagraí scríofa
The large scale capital project at the school referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 4 – Construction.
The project brief for the Major Project at Holy Family Community School includes the Demolition of the existing school and the phased construction of a three storey 1,000 pupil Community School with Special Education Needs Unit and PE Hall.
The Departments School Design Guide - SDG 02-06 Sanitary Facilities states that the provision for hand drying facilities shall be paper towel or cotton/linen towels. Electric hand dryers are not permitted. The sanitary facilities should have adequate space for disposable hand towel dispensers and a refuse bin for the disposal of paper towels.
The Department of Education and Youth (DEY) have an ongoing policy of updating and improving its suite of Technical Guidance Documents / School Design Guides (TGDs / SDGs) for schools with a view to offering better guidance to school authorities and Design Teams.
The Department has undertaken extensive review exercises of recently built schools. Lessons learnt incorporating feedback from schools and international best practice has resulted in the formation of our guidelines.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (529)
Mark Wall
Ceist:529. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 515 of 30 September 2025, if she will consider a request for a Remote Area Grant based on (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55444/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so. Children who are eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available may be offered the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements.
The closing date for new applications for the 2025/26 school year was Friday, 25 April 2025 and the closing date for payment was Friday, 06 June 2025. If the application or payment is late they may not secure a seat on a service and will not be considered for a remote area grant.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to is attending his nearest post primary school/centre. However, payment was not received until 08 July 2025 and he is, therefore, not eligible for the Remote Area Grant under the terms of the scheme.
Bus Éireann has further advised that by the time payment was made, the school transport service for the 2025/26 school year was operating at capacity.
My Department has requested a report from Bus Éireann regarding the matter raised in relation payment and we will contact the Deputy directly to advise once this report has been received.
Oideachas Gaeltachta
Ceisteanna (530, 531, 532)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:530. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students in Irish medium schools in the Gaeltacht regions in Donegal who did the Junior Cycle Irish exam (T1 exam); to provide a breakdown of the number of students which received a result of distinction, higher merit, merit, achieved and partially achieved; and the number of students in these schools who took the Irish exam. [55452/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDarren O'Rourke
Ceist:531. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students in Irish medium schools in Donegal outside of the Gaeltacht areas which did the Junior Cycle Irish exam (T1 exam); to provide a breakdown of the number of students which received a result of distinction, higher merit, merit, achieved and partially achieved; and the number of students in these schools who took the Irish exam. [55453/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDarren O'Rourke
Ceist:532. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students in non-Irish medium or Gaeltacht schools in Donegal who did the Junior Cycle Irish exam (T2 exam); to provide a breakdown of the number of students who received a result of distinction, higher merit, merit, achieved and partially achieved; and the number of students in these schools who took the Irish exam. [55454/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 530, 531 and 532 together.
My Department does not gather or retain data that would facilitate the requested comparisons. Crude comparisons of academic performance alone can be very misleading for students, teachers, parents and communities. Such comparisons are likely to provide an unbalanced and limited indication of a cohort’s overall performance. There are many different factors which feed into a student’s education and generally my Department does not identify particular cohorts of students in order to compare their State Examination results against those obtained by another cohort of students.
The provisional Junior Cycle examinations results were published recently by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) for all subjects and are available online at examinations.ie/statistics. In the provisional results for the 2025 examinations, 8.8% of the 2,581 candidates who sat T1 higher level Irish and 6.3% of the 95 candidates who sat ordinary level T1 examinations received a distinction result, while 8.3% of the 32,293 candidates who sat T2 higher level and 7.1% of the 23,898 candidates who sat the ordinary level T2 examinations received a distinction.
The Deputy may wish to note that on 22 April, I announced changes to the Junior Cycle grade bands. This has resulted in higher levels of distinctions and higher merits across the subjects in 2025. However, the bands remain sufficiently broad to ensure that students can focus on learning and engaging in school, and on becoming independent, resourceful and confident learners, rather than focusing solely on examinations. It is vital that students, their learning and engagement remains at the heart of Junior Cycle.
Question No. 531 answered with Question No. 530.
Question No. 532 answered with Question No. 530.
Education Policy
Ceisteanna (533, 534, 535)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:533. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there is a higher marking criteria for students who take the Junior Cycle Irish T1 exam than the T2 exam. [55455/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDarren O'Rourke
Ceist:534. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware there appears to be a higher standard of marking for Junior Cycle students taking the Irish T1 exam than those taking the Irish T2 exam; and her views on whether this will influence parent’s decisions to send their children to an Irish medium school or if they will be more likely to attend an English speaking school. [55456/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDarren O'Rourke
Ceist:535. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that only 7% of students in Irish medium schools and schools in the Gaeltacht received a distinction in the Junior Cycle Irish exam; and the measures she is taking to improve these numbers. [55457/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 533, 534 and 535 together.
With effect from 2017, as part of the Framework for Junior Cycle, Junior Cycle provision for Irish in post-primary schools and settings comprises two different curriculum specifications with corresponding different sets of assessments. The T1 (Teanga 1) specification is targeted at students in Irish-medium schools and students in English-medium schools who learn one or more subjects (apart from Irish) through the medium of Irish. The T2 (Teanga 2) specification is targeted at other students in English-medium schools.
In the T1 specification, the language needs of both native speakers of Irish and learners of Irish are considered. The provision of enriched language-learning experiences for all students, particularly those who are native speakers of Irish, is of the utmost importance. These students use the language on a daily basis, at home, in the neighbourhood and in school. Due to their immediate language environment, they have fairly well-developed productive and receptive language skills. This specification aims to develop, enrich and enhance the full range of students’ language skills.
It is expected that the competencies and understandings from this specification will support native Irish speakers to:
• take advantage of opportunities for language use in the community;
• learn through Irish across the curriculum; and
• play an active part in Gaeltacht community life.
The learning outcomes within this specification are broadly aligned with the B2 descriptors independent language user, of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
In English-medium schools, the English language is the working language of the school and T2 Irish is taught as a subject. Students in English-medium schools are to a large extent dependent on the Irish language classroom as the Irish language community is not always on the doorstep of the classroom.
With regards to achievement at T1 and T2, the provisional Junior Cycle examinations results were published recently by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) for all subjects and are available online at examinations.ie/statistics. In each year since the new Irish specifications were first examined in 2022, the percentage of students who achieved distinction has been slightly higher for students studying the T1 specification than for students studying the T2 specification at an equivalent level.
In the provisional results for the 2025 examinations, 8.8% of the 2,581 candidates who sat T1 higher level Irish and 6.3% of the 95 candidates who sat ordinary level examinations received a distinction result, while 8.3% of the 32,293 candidates who sat T2 higher level and 7.1% of the 23,898 candidates who sat the ordinary level T2 examinations received a distinction.
Question No. 534 answered with Question No. 533.
Question No. 535 answered with Question No. 533.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (536)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:536. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a list of all grants currently available to schools for capital works, equipment, or storage facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55474/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. In addition, over 200 SEN Repurposing projects have been delivered maximising the use of existing accommodation while creating opportunities for inclusion and integration.
My department provides the school with a range of grants to support capital works, equipment purchases, and storage facilities. These include Minor Works Grants, Capitation Grants, and ICT Grants.
The Minor Works Grant is provided to all primary and special schools, to enable them to undertake small-scale minor maintenance and improvement works on a devolved basis.
Schools have the autonomy to use this funding for maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds. Given that each school setting is different, individual schools are best placed, to decide how best to use this funding to address the school’s particular needs.
The works that can be undertaken under the minor works scheme include maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds, repairs and painting, improvement or replacement of mechanical and electrical services, the purchase or repair of standard furniture and PE equipment, the purchase of IT equipment, ventilation improvements, and enhancements to outdoor learning environments.
Since 2020, €310 million in Minor Works Grants and Enhanced Minor Works Grants have been allocated to schools. This includes the payment of Minor Works Grants totalling almost €30 million for the school year 2025/2026, which issued in June 2025.
My department also provides funding to primary and post-primary schools by way of per capita grants. A €30 million permanent increase through Budget 2025 represented a 12% rise in standard rates. In Budget 2026, a further €39 million increase will bring rates to €274 (primary) and €406 (post-primary) for the 2026/2027 school year. In addition to capitation grants, schools receive ancillary/SSSF grants to support the employment of caretakers and secretaries. Schools can combine ancillary/SSSF, and capitation grants to meet operational priorities, providing flexibility in managing their financial resources, except for specific employment conditions outlined in Circular 0036/2022.
Under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027, €35 million in ICT grant funding issued in May 2025 to all recognised primary, post-primary, and special schools. This represents the third tranche of funding and brings total ICT funding to €135 million of the €200 million committed under the National Development Plan, supporting the integration of digital technologies in teaching, learning, and assessment. The initiative builds on €210 million provided under the previous 2015–2020 Digital strategy.
Freedom of Information
Ceisteanna (537)
Pádraig Rice
Ceist:537. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the reason the records of the Departmental Council of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs over the period November 1981 to December 1983 dealing with the transfer of 10,000 civil servants from that Department to An Post are not available under the Freedom of Information Act 2014. [54655/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Section 11 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, refers to records being subject to access by request, should the records be created on or after the 'effective date’ of the FOI Act itself. Records from 1981 to 1983 therefore do not fall under the provisions of the FOI Act.
Telecommunications Services
Ceisteanna (538)
Michael Cahill
Ceist:538. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will request a company (details supplied) to assign dedicated technical teams for isolated areas such as south Kerry, to ensure a faster response to communication outages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54651/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The activities of commercial operators are not planned or funded by the State and the Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.
Nevertheless, my Department has been working with colleagues in industry to examine the impact that storms and adverse weather events have had on communication networks and to put in place measures and structures to lessen the impact of future storms. Progress is being made in developing improved response and resilience capacities within the sector following Storm Éowyn in January.
All network operators, both fixed and mobile, have conducted a review of their preparedness for the risks posed by storms. They have advised me of resilience investments and actions they are making this year and over the coming years to improve their networks’ abilities to withstand the kinds of physical damage and prolonged mains power loss that we experienced in January. These investments and actions include:
• Identification of critical sites that will be hardened and prioritised for recovery in the event of future storms
• Upgrades of backup battery capacity for key mobile sites
• Acquisition of additional generator capacity to be deployed to sites experiencing a prolonged loss of mains power.
• Reconfiguration of power management for priority sites, to reduce power consumption and to provide a minimum level of service for a longer period.
• Continuous replacement programme of older batteries each year to avoid degradation of the battery capacities.
• Engagement with site providers and landowners to prioritise clearance of access paths in the event of fallen trees or vegetation blocking access to hilltop sites.
My Department, in cooperation with the independent regulator, ComReg, and telecoms infrastructure providers is currently establishing a group to focus on improving the telecommunications sector’s coherence, coordination and preparedness when it comes to network resilience and future storm responses. This group will focus on ensuring that this largely privatised sector is better prepared to work with the State's national and local emergency response structures such that we will see a much better response to storm-related issues and a faster service recovery time.
Departmental Advertising
Ceisteanna (539)
Gary Gannon
Ceist:539. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his expenditure on advertising, with details of the objective, duration, social media platforms, reach, audience, CTR and cost of each social media advertising campaign, in 2023 to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54675/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It should be noted that my Department was re-configured as the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport at the beginning of June 2025. The details sought by the Deputy in relation to social media advertising from 2023 to date for the current functions under the remit of my Department are set out in tabular form below. All available metrics are included in the response.
|
Year |
Number of Campaigns |
Total Cost |
|
2023 |
2 |
€60,713.29 |
|
2024 |
1 |
€53,612 |
|
2025 |
1 |
€23,178
|
Full details:
|
Year |
Objective of Advertising Campaigns |
Duration of Advertising Campaigns |
Social Media Platforms Used |
Reach |
Audience |
Click Through Rate (CTR) |
Cost of Advertising Campaigns\ (incl. VAT) |
|
2023 |
Public Awareness Campaign relating to the launch of the UK Public Warning System |
19th – 23rd April 2023 |
Twitter Facebook |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
€1594.29 |
|
2023 |
To promote Cruinniú na nÓg 2023 |
31st May – 10th June 2023 |
Meta TikTok |
7.1k |
Parents and families and young people up to the age of 18 |
N/A |
€59,119 |
|
2024 |
To promote Cruinniú na nÓg 2024 |
31st May-15th June 2024 |
Meta TikTok Snapchat |
Meta reached 815k users TikTok - 744k reach Snapchat 1.25 million users |
Parents and families and young people up to the age of 18 |
N/A |
€53,612 |
|
2025 |
To promote Cruinniú na nÓg 2025 |
26th May-6th June 2025 |
Meta
TikTok |
Meta 2,487,951
TikTok 1,722,570 |
Parents and families and young people up to the age of 18 |
.11%
.20% |
€23,178 Comprising: Meta €11,589 TikTok €11,589 |
Commemorative Events
Ceisteanna (540)
Malcolm Byrne
Ceist:540. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if the government plans to mark the bicentennial anniversary of Catholic emancipation in 2029. [54760/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, the Commemorations Unit in my Department co-ordinates the appropriate remembrance of Ireland's many historical events, anniversaries and themes.
Commemorations have always been delivered through a collaborative process between the State, key project partners and stakeholders. This has been guided by expert and independent advice formerly from the Expert Advisory Group and now by the newly formed Commemorations Advisory Committee, chaired by Bryan Dobson.
The 250th anniversary of the Catholic Emancipation Act in 2029 has been identified by the Commemorations Advisory Committee and other stakeholders as worthy of recognition and remembrance. This is not only in terms of religious freedom but also in the broader context of the global campaign for human and civil rights.
My Department will work with our project partners to develop a programme that will be shared in a Memorandum in due course. The aim will be to ensure that this anniversary is remembered appropriately, following the established commemorations framework.
A programme of events led by Trinity College Dublin which stems from the Daniel O’Connell 250th Anniversary Commemorative Programme is already confirmed to run up to and mark the anniversary in 2029. Other initiatives are at a research and development stage.
It is proposed that this anniversary and the key participants including O’Connell himself, will remain in the commemorative work programme for the years to come. This includes making supports available to the local authority network through the commemoration grant funding allocation. This supports local communities who wish to recognise and develop appropriate commemorative initiatives associated with this theme and using the approved framework of commemorations.
Arts Policy
Ceisteanna (541)
Liam Quaide
Ceist:541. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will provide an update on a successor to the pilot basic income for the arts scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54891/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Telecommunications Infrastructure
Ceisteanna (542)
Michael Cahill
Ceist:542. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will urgently address concerns (details supplied); if he will allow for the continuation of the 2G network, given many people will be adversely affected if this is disconnected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54900/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is not aware of plans by any mobile network operator (MNO) to retire their 2G (GSM) network in the immediate future.
However, the global industry trend is seeing the retirement of 2G and 3G services in favour of 4G and 5G services. The first 2G network was introduced to Ireland in 1993 and the underlying technology is not as efficient as newer services. As this global trend continues it will become increasingly costly and inefficient for operators to maintain 2G services as the pool of suppliers and engineers diminishes in line with market demands.
In July 2024 the independent regulator, ComReg, provided detailed guidance regarding 2G/3G switch-off in its information note to MNOs (ComReg 24/61):
• The guidance states that an MNO must notify ComReg at least 6 months in advance of a network cessation, as specified in their spectrum license conditions. This is the minimum notice an operator would have to give the regulator.
• This purpose of this notice is to ensure there are no adverse impacts on customers.
• The notification would be followed by a comprehensive communications plan from the MNO to inform the public of its network cessation plans.
In contrast to 2G, Irish MNOs have begun the gradual phasing out of their 3G networks. This will allow them to focus on reallocating network capacity to more efficient technologies, i.e. 4G and 5G networks. Both 4G and 5G provide faster internet speeds, better signal quality and improved mobile service for customers.
Vodafone are the first mobile network operator to retire its 3G network. Their 3G service switch-off was completed in October 2024.
Sports Funding
Ceisteanna (543)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Ceist:543. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the timeframe to provide funding to rebuild a facility (details supplied); if he is aware of the serious impact on the community of 40,000 people living in Inishowen, from the closure of this key community amenity for over a decade. [54978/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Capital support for new swimming pools, and the refurbishment of existing pools, is provided by my Department through the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF), which to date has allocated €28.9 million to 9 swimming pool projects.
In 2024, the LSSIF received an unprecedented demand for funding, amounting to €665 million from 96 applications. In parallel, funding towards design costs was allocated to the leisure centre project in Buncrana. This was done given the strategic importance of developing swimming pool infrastructure, in line with the National Swimming Strategy. The Department is progressing the drawdown of this funding with Donegal County Council.
Departmental Contracts
Ceisteanna (544)
Albert Dolan
Ceist:544. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if there are any technical, legal, operational, or policy constraints preventing his Department, when publishing quarterly reports of payments or purchase orders over €20,000, from including additional columns that link each payment to its underlying procurement process specifically tender/contract title; name and address of the awarded contractor/supplier; contract award date; contract duration; expected contract value (excl. VAT); maximum contract value (excl. VAT); the unique identifier from the relevant contract award notice; and where such constraints exist, to provide details explaining his Department’s current process for reconciling each reported payment with the corresponding published contract award notice on eTenders. [55054/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is fully in line with obligations regarding the publication quarterly reports of payments or purchase orders over €20,000 arising from the Public Service Reform in 2011, and under Section 8 of the FOI Act, 2014.
The central policy in relation to these matters is set by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. As such, my Department follows the central guidance on the material which is published.
The Purchase Order report relating to payments for goods, services or works procured to a value greater than €20,000 for my Department are available at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/collections/purchase-orders/#2025
Departmental Contracts
Ceisteanna (545)
Albert Dolan
Ceist:545. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if all contracting authorities under the aegis of his Department are in full compliance with Circular 05/2023, in particular the mandatory requirement to publish contract award notices for all contracts above €25,000; and if he will provide details of the monitoring or enforcement arrangements in place to ensure this requirement is met. [55071/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The details of the monitoring or enforcement arrangements in place by bodies under the aegis of my Department to ensure full compliance with Circular 05/2023 are an operational matter for those bodies.
However, I can confirm that the governance oversight arrangements operated by my Department, in terms of compliance assurance across state bodies, encompass relevant public procurement obligations.
Arts Policy
Ceisteanna (546, 547, 548)
Barry Ward
Ceist:546. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport 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]
Amharc ar fhreagraBarry Ward
Ceist:547. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport 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]
Amharc ar fhreagraBarry Ward
Ceist:548. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport 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]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Question No. 547 answered with Question No. 546.
Question No. 548 answered with Question No. 546.