Online Consultation on pilot Basic Income for the Arts - Open Today

Minister Catherine Martin T.D. has today launched an online consultation on a pilot Basic Income for the Arts. The online consultation opens today and is available for response here until the consultation closes on 27 January 2022. 

According to the press release, the purpose of the online consultation is to ensure that the general public, artists and those working in the arts and culture sector have the opportunity to contribute to the policy development for the pilot scheme and to offer suggestions from their experiences as artists, arts workers and members of resource organisations on key issues such as the schemes objectives, eligibility criteria, supporting emerging artists and participant responsibilities.

The idea of a basic income, “an income unconditionally granted to all on an individual basis, without means test or work requirement”[1] is something that Social Justice Ireland has been proposing for decades. At its core, a Basic Income is a guaranteed payment from the State to every resident - on an individual basis - without any means test or work requirement and intended to provide for a subsistence level lifestyle for everyone. 

In May 2021, Social Justice Ireland released our study showing how the Government could honour its commitment to pilot a Universal Basic Income by introducing a Basic Income for artists and arts workers.  This initiative would have minimal costs to the Exchequer and could bave been implemented from 1^st January 2022.

In December 2021, we published our Quick Guide to Delivering a Basic Income Pilot, setting out what a Basic Income is, it's characteristics, and how a pilot could be delivered in Ireland, together with a timeline. For those interested in Basic Income, we hope it provides a useful reference in responding to the latest consultation.