Local councillor Isobel Towse has raised some questions about how the Basic Income for the Arts Scheme will be managed; the pilot scheme was made permanent in the 2026 Budget. 

However, while ‘delighted’ overall with the news, Cllr Towse queried the ‘lack of clarity’ as to how the scheme will be rolled out and also criticised the fact that there will be almost a year of delay before the permanent scheme is enacted.

Raising the matter at Monday’s meeting of Cork County Council, councillors agreed to write to Minister Patrick O’Donovan to seek clarity and find out what the total number of recipients of the scheme will be, how long artists and arts workers will have to wait, and will the scheme be allocated ‘randomly’ or targeted in some way. 

Questions were also asked about what criteria need to be met to qualify for the scheme.

‘There are many unanswered questions which need clarity as soon as possible, so that artists can plan their futures. It’s ironic that a scheme introduced to address the financial precariousness and unpredictability of a sector, would be announced with so little clarity or security,’ said Cllr Towse.

‘Astoundingly, there will be a gap of at least six months between the pilot ending and the new scheme even starting. The government is getting out of providing Basic Income for the Arts for the best part of a year,’ she added.

‘Furthermore, the government has confirmed there will be just 2,000 recipients in the next scheme. This is not an expansion of the scheme. The National Campaign for the Arts were pushing for 8,000 artists to be covered by the scheme, which is the total number of eligible applicants in the pilot. Basic income, by its very nature, is a universal payment. However, as the money isn’t being provided, I believe it needs to be more targeted in the next scheme.’

Cllr Towse continued to say that she had spoken with artists who felt there was ‘inequality’ in the scheme.

‘For example, some arts workers have existing stable jobs in the arts while some, mainly women, have caring responsibilities that hinder them from finding other work and also leaves little time to dedicate to applying for other arts grants. We need clarity on if it will be targeted to support those who need it most, or will it be allocated randomly among those eligible as the pilot was.

‘It’s very positive that other countries are looking to Ireland as pioneers of Basic Income for the Arts, but we will soon become a laughing stock if we don’t improve upon the pilot.

‘Overall I’m delighted it is being made permanent. It’s been a lifeline to so many artists and has had huge economic benefits too, generating €1.39 for Irish society for every €1 spent on the scheme. 

‘It’s a no-brainer to expand the scheme and bring forward the application process so artists aren’t waiting up to a year by the time payments realistically reach the next round of successful applicants. It’s not too late to get this right.’