Minister O’Donovan launches public consultation on the future of Basic Income for the Arts
Posted: 12th August 2025
- Minister seeking the public's views on the Basic Income for the Arts
- Online Public Consultation opens on 12 August and closes on 5 September
- Minister plans to bring proposals for a permanent intervention to Cabinet as part of Budget 2026
The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, today launched a nationwide public consultation on the future of Basic Income for the Arts.
Basic Income for the Arts is a pilot research programme which has been running since August 2022. 2,000 artists are in receipt of €325 per week in order to support their creative practice. The primary objective of the scheme is to help artists deal with precarious incomes and to prevent talent from leaving the sector for economic reasons. While the research phase of the pilot scheme is still ongoing, 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.
As the pilot comes to an end in February 2026, the public is invited to share their views on the future of the policy. Reports on the impact of the scheme on the artists participating can be found here: Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme: Reports.
The consultation invites feedback from the public, stakeholders, and advocacy groups. The consultation will give members of the public and stakeholder organisations the opportunity to express their views on the future of BIA. Anyone is welcome to contribute.
Minister Patrick O’Donovan said:
I encourage the sector and the wider public to engage with the consultation, and look forward to suggestions, as they will inform our approach.”
A Government decision will be required on a successor scheme to the pilot. The public consultation can be accessed HERE. The consultation period will run from 12 August to 5 September.
Seolann an tAire O’Donovan comhairliúchán poiblí maidir le todhchaí an Ioncaim Bhunúsaigh do na hEalaíona
- Tá tuairimí an phobail á lorg ag an Aire maidir le hIoncam Bunúsach do na hEalaíona
- Cuirfear tús leis an gComhairliúchán Poiblí ar líne an 12 Lúnasa agus dúnfar é an 5 Meán Fómhair
- Tá sé beartaithe ag an Aire tograí le haghaidh idirghabháil bhuan a chur faoi bhráid na Comh-Aireachta mar chuid de Bhuiséad 2026
Sheol an tAire Cultúir, Cumarsáide agus Spóirt, Patrick O’Donovan TD, comhairliúchán poiblí ar fud na tíre inniu maidir le todhchaí an Ioncaim Bhunúsaigh do na hEalaíona.
Is clár taighde píolótach é Ioncam Bunúsach do na hEalaíona (BIA) atá ar siúl ó mhí Lúnasa 2022. Faigheann 2,000 ealaíontóir €325 sa tseachtain chun tacú lena gcleachtas cruthaitheach. Is é príomhchuspóir na scéime cabhrú le healaíontóirí déileáil le hioncaim fhorbhásacha agus cosc a chur ar thallann an earnáil a fhágáil ar chúiseanna eacnamaíocha. Cé go bhfuil céim thaighde na scéime píolótaí fós ar siúl, is léir ó fhianaise a bailíodh go dtí seo faoin scéim go bhfuil tionchar dearfach aici ar rannpháirtithe. Léiríonn na sonraí sin go bhfuil tionchar comhsheasmhach dearfach ag an íocaíocht BIA ar bheagnach gach táscaire - rud a dhéanann difear d’fhorbairt cleachtais, coinneáil earnálach, folláine agus díothacht.
De réir mar a thiocfaidh deireadh leis an scéim phíolótach i mí Feabhra 2026, iarrtar ar an bpobal a dtuairimí a roinnt maidir le todhchaí an bheartais. Is féidir teacht ar thuarascálacha ar thionchar na scéime ar na healaíontóirí atá rannpháirteach anseo: Scéim Phíolótach um Ioncam Bunúsach do na hEalaíona: Tuarascálacha.
Iarrann an comhairliúchán aiseolas ón bpobal, ó pháirtithe leasmhara agus ó ghrúpaí abhcóideachta. Tabharfaidh an comhairliúchán deis don phobal agus d’eagraíochtaí páirtithe leasmhara a dtuairimí a chur in iúl maidir le todhchaí BIA. Tá fáilte roimh dhuine ar bith páirt a ghlacadh.
Dúirt an tAire Patrick O’Donovan:
Molaim don earnáil agus don phobal i gcoitinne dul i dteagmháil leis an gcomhairliúchán, agus táim ag tnúth le moltaí, mar go mbeidh siad mar bhonn eolais dár gcur chuige.”
Beidh cinneadh ón Rialtas ag teastáil maidir le scéim chomharba don scéim phíolótach.
Is féidir teacht ar an gcomhairliúchán poiblí ANSEO. Mairfidh an tréimhse chomhairliúcháin ó 12 Lúnasa go 5 Meán Fómhair.