Rollout of Basic Income for arts Scheme described as a ‘shambles’

Roderic O'Gorman: 'The drip-feed for decisions on who have received offers of the BIA has left artists desperately checking their emails to find out if they are in, out, or haven’t received a decision yet.' File picture: PA

The roll out of the Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) has been described as an “absolute shambles” as the scheme has left artists “desperately checking their emails” to find out if they have qualified for the support.

Under an updated version of the scheme, 2,000 practicing professional Irish-based artists will receive €325 per week for three years.

However, Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman has hit out at the slow administration of the scheme, which he said is playing with people’s livelihoods.

“This scheme is all about giving artists certainty. Instead, the drip-feed for decisions on who have received offers of the BIA has left artists desperately checking their emails to find out if they are in, out, or haven’t received a decision yet,” he said.

In February, Minister Patrick O’Donovan announced a successor scheme to the BIA pilot scheme, which was first introduced by Catherine Martin in the last government.

Professional, practicing artists were asked to apply for the new scheme earlier this year, and just over 10,000 applications were received.

The Department’s allocation in Budget 2027 has provided for the full-year cost of basic income for the arts of €34.4m to ensure that all commitments under scheme to fund 2,000 artists could be met.

The department began communication to 780 applicants deemed eligible to participate in the scheme in mid-October, and a further 450 applicants were notified late last week. 

The Department said another tranche of successful applicants will be notified before Christmas, but has yet to provide a date for this announcement.

“The department is processing the applications as promptly as possible and all successful candidates will receive the full allocation of €325 per week for three years,” a spokesperson said.

Process an 'absolute shambles'

However, Mr O’Gorman described this process as an “absolute shambles”.

“How is it that the Government can’t decide on the successful recipients and issue them all with their decisions in an organised way?” he said.

“It was done when the scheme was originally piloted four years ago.” 

This was echoed by Sinn Féin TD Réada Cronin, who has demanded an explanation from the department for what she described as “the botched roll-out” of the BIA scheme.

“Artists already struggling to make a living have been failed by the unexplained delays and confusingly phased roll-out of the basic income for the arts scheme,” she said.

“We know that 10,000 artists applied ahead of the mid-May deadline, and consultants EY were brought in to run the selection process, which took place that same month to choose 2,000 recipients due to get €325 a week for a three-year period.

“Almost half a year later, and most of those artists are still awaiting news of their application, and it appears the department is still conducting ‘eligibility checks’.”

• Elaine Loughlin is Political Editor with the Irish Examiner