3. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his plans for the extension or expansion of the basic income for the arts, following the publication of the cost-benefit analysis on the pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52536/25]
Sentiment score: 0.01
Over 11,000 people have signed a petition to retain, extend and expand the basic income for the arts scheme. A cost-benefit analysis prepared by Alma Economics for the Department has shown that for every €1 invested society receives €1.39 in return, with over €100 million in social and economic benefits. With the budget approaching next week and the pilot due to end in February, will the Minister confirm if the scheme will continue beyond the pilot and what form it will take?
Sentiment score: 0.33
In some ways, I do not know whether it is good or bad that no decision has been made yet, given there is a very short administrative time, between this week and the end of February, for the scheme to continue without interruption. Artists are asking questions, such as whether those who are currently on the scheme can continue on it or a whole new cohort will be involved, or whether there will be increased numbers. The cost-benefit analysis the Minister quoted has shown how effective it has been and that there is that positive significant statistical impact in terms of both the psychological well-being of recipients and the reduction in the likelihood of experiencing mental health challenges, as well as all the other points he raised. If the Department receives the funding in the budget on Tuesday, is it intended to continue the basic income for the arts scheme?
Sentiment score: 0.24
I welcome the confirmation that the Minister's intention is to have a basic income scheme, whatever its new title will be. However, part of the problem for artists at the moment is they are unsure of what the new scheme will look like. Obviously, that will be determined somewhat by budgetary factors but there are some things the Minister may be able to explain at the moment. Will it be a new scheme? Will it be totally reworked? Will it be an extension of the current scheme? Is it the case that the current 2,000 will continue to receive it, with another cohort added, or will it be a totally new cohort? Will those who currently receive the basic income be allowed to reapply if that is the intention? Will the scheme be based on the current random selection or will it be based on merit or financial need? Finally, will the issues experienced by those disabled artists and those on social welfare be addressed on this occasion? They were promised that in the initial round of basic income.
Sentiment score: 0.10
4. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to confirm whether he granted funding to a festival on an exceptional basis outside the normal application processes for annual departmental or Arts Council schemes; the amounts and the recipients of such exceptional funding outside the normal applications processes provided by his Department in relation to community festivals and summer schools since his appointment; and if he will commit to ensuring in future that any such exceptional funding is separately indexed by his Department. [52539/25]
Sentiment score: 0.29
My last attempt to ask this question was disallowed and a freedom of information request has yet to receive a response. I will ask it outright: did the new Minister ignore all normal arm's length criteria and competition-based funding processes so he could provide thousands of taxpayers' euro off the books at the request of somebody who was until January of this year a Government Senator?
Sentiment score: 0.14
That is okay.
Sentiment score: 0.23
I did not name the festival because I believe it deserves to be funded - I have absolutely no problem with that - but I am interested in the way in which the normal funding process was circumvented in this instance. The question is whether there are other ways for festivals to circumvent the small-scale schemes that the Minister mentioned or the Arts Council schemes. Yes, there are occasions when this happens but the Department does not publish a list of all of the groups that got funding outside of the normal channels and funding methods. The reason those funding methods were put in place was to avoid circumstances like the current one where allegations are made about the Department, the Minister or the person who sought the funding. I wish the festival well and I hope it continues. Hopefully, it will be funded properly so there is no need to try to seek funding outside of the normal channels.
Sentiment score: 0.26
I can answer that directly: no.
Sentiment score: -0.30
If the Minister would listen, I specifically said that Listowel Writers Week deserves to be properly funded.
Sentiment score: 0.00
Yes but the Minister did not publish that he was giving this money in this format to Listowel, to-----
Sentiment score: 0.61
-----Tralee or to any of the other ones.
Sentiment score: 0.00
The Minister should publish it. That is transparency.
Sentiment score: 0.00
If he is going to do it this way, the Minister will attract applications well beyond the three he mentioned. That is not the process. He set up a process and that is the way in which people should apply for funding and that funding should be increased. The problem is the Minister and his Department are not being transparent in the way it is funding. Yes, there are exceptions and, yes, there is a need-----
Sentiment score: 0.22
There are exceptions and those exceptions include Listowel Writers' Week, Tralee and others, but that should be published. The Minister should be open that this funding stream is available to everybody.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I have no issue with Listowel either.
Sentiment score: -0.30
I have absolutely no issue with Listowel.
Sentiment score: -0.36
I have absolutely no problem with Listowel.
Sentiment score: -0.67
I had not mentioned Listowel. The Minister named it.
Sentiment score: 0.00
The Minister brought Listowel into this.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I did not.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I have absolutely no problem.
Sentiment score: -0.67
I would not have been allowed with the rules of the House. I did not put it down specifically, so that I was not casting aspersions on Listowel.
Sentiment score: 0.00
It was on the Minister and not on the------.
Sentiment score: 0.00
The Minister has been doing that for the past ten minutes.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I have absolutely no problem with Listowel.
Sentiment score: -0.67
I do not have a problem with the people of Listowel.
Sentiment score: 0.31
Great. That is what I said. They should be funded properly. I might get an invite next year.
Sentiment score: 0.19
A very raw nerve.
Sentiment score: 0.00