Latest news with #Budget2026
The Journal
a day ago
- Business
- The Journal
Artists to receive an extra €8,450 as Basic Income for the Arts scheme extended until next year
THE BASIC INCOME for the Arts (BIA) payment scheme has been extended until February 2026 – meaning that artists currently on the pilot programme will receive an additional €8,450. This extension applies to the 2,000 artists participating in the scheme, who receive a weekly payment of €325. Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O'Donovan, confirmed that the government remains committed to reviewing the BIA pilot scheme to 'maximise its impact'. He explained that the six-month extension of the scheme allows the department time to prepare proposals for a new successor scheme. Last month, the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport published a report on the scheme, in which artists highlighted how the weekly stipend improved their mental health, gave them a greater sense of empowerment, and provided much-needed stability in their lives and work . Advertisement Other benefits cited included helping artists secure more sustainable housing, start families, and establish pension schemes. Arts groups have warmly welcomed the scheme. Launched initially in September 2022, the Basic Income for the Arts scheme has been a vital source of support for many creatives. O'Donovan plans to present proposals for a successor scheme to Cabinet as part of Budget 2026. The six-month extension will be used to finalise research on the pilot and engage with key stakeholders in the arts sector. The minister said this approach would provide the government 'with a comprehensive evidence base upon which to base future policy decisions' regarding the scheme. 'I fully appreciate the importance of the Basic Income support for artists and am glad to bring some certainty to those currently benefiting from it,' he added. Following the announcement, the National Campaign for the Arts (NCFA) launched a new campaign urging local government representatives to back calls for the scheme to be permanently retained, extended, and expanded. 'Our campaign aims to benefit Irish society by ensuring the BIA scheme becomes a permanent support mechanism for artists, recognising its potential to transform Ireland's precious creative landscape,' NCFA Chairperson Maria Fleming said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Major decision on €325 weekly payment for thousands of Irish in 6-month move amid fresh ‘kicking can down the road' fury
THOUSANDS of Irish people getting a €325 weekly payment have been handed a six-month lifeline - in a move that's been slammed as "kicking the can down the road". The Basic Income for the Arts is a pilot The main aim of the payment is to address the job and financial instability faced by many in the creative industry. There were 2,000 creatives selected to The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O'Donovan confirmed today the pilot scheme will be extended for a further six months. The READ MORE IN NEWS He said the six-month extension will allow for both allow time for "the full evaluation of the pilot" and "stakeholder engagement". "Confirming the plans in a statement today he said: "The Programme for Government commits to assessing the Basic Income for the Arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. "In order to allow for the preparation of proposals for a new scheme, based on the research and consultation with the sector, I am today announcing a six-month extension of the current scheme. "I fully appreciate the importance of the Basic Income support for artists and am glad to be able to bring some certainty to those currently on the scheme." Most read in Money He continued: "I know there is broad-based support for the scheme, and I intend to bring proposals for a successor scheme to Cabinet as part of Budget 2026. "The extension I am announcing today will provide time to finalise the research programme and to undertake stakeholder engagement which will provide the Government with a comprehensive evidence base upon which to base future policy decisions about the Basic Income for the Arts. New online application system opens for €360 or €180 Domiciliary Care Allowance applications "To facilitate this work, I am extending the pilot scheme for those currently participating in the pilot for six months to February 2026.' However, the move has been met with strong criticism claiming it leaves artists in "limbo" rather than aids them. The Labour Party blasted Minister O'Donovan and claimed the extension was part of a "drip feed of promises". Labour's Arts spokesperson Rob O'Donoghue said the TD was "kicking the can down the road" with the new extension. He fumed: "This scheme has been a tremendous success, with artists across the board stating how it has been instrumental in their ability to work more effectively and more creatively in their vocations. "Why then has the Minister simply added a 6-month Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads? With no further information as to what the successor scheme will entail, how can the Minister leave artists in limbo?" 'BEGGING BOWL' He added: "We know there are some adjustments that require addressing for example the criteria for entry, the lack of inclusion of certain artistic forms, and the nebulous appeals process for those who did apply for the scheme in the first place. But will these really be addressed with a six month extension?" 'Ireland has always managed to produce some of the best artistic talent the world has ever known. Our support for our artists must be extended and done so with a clear vision. 'I'm calling on the Minister to stop kicking the can down the road. Artists need security and not have to worry about bringing the begging bowl back to the Government table.' 'CONSISTENT, POSITIVE IMPACT' As part of assessing the current benefits the Basic Income for the Arts payment is providing the Department of Finance is preparing a report on the first two years. The Department detail while research is ongoing, current data highlights a positive impact. They said: "It is clear from evidence collected to date that the BIA payment is having a consistent, positive impact across almost all indicators - affecting practice development, sectoral retention, well-being, and deprivation." Artists receiving the payment are reported able to produce more work and devote more time to their work. Those on the scheme have also reported a wellbeing boost and the reduction of anxiety. 1 Thousands will continue to receive the payment over the next half a year Credit: Getty Images
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Government should shoulder payroll costs in childcare sector, Oireachtas committee told
The Government should take on the payroll costs of childcare providers and make early years educators public sector workers as part of essential reform to the system, an Oireachtas committee has heard. Children's Rights Alliance CEO Tanya Ward told TDs and Senators on the Oireachtas Children's Committee that it could be a 'groundbreaking move'. She said that one in four early years educators are leaving the sector and the main issue is the 'lack of parity of esteem' with the likes of primary school teachers. 'They all go in with the same aspirations, but the primary school teachers will stay in that area of education,' she said. 'And the early years educators won't because they can't live on the wages and salaries. And then any move forward towards affordability, a move towards a public model, the first thing has to be recognition and pay and conditions for the staff working in the services.' In a wide-ranging hearing, the Children's Rights Alliance also fielded questions around the safety of kids online and data on child poverty. Online safety Describing the availability of pornography as a 'massive issue', Ms Ward said the younger a child is when they come into contact with violent pornography, the more damaging it is. 'We are hearing, as you would know, from the rape crisis centers,' she said. 'They are saying it seems to be a feature in some of the sexual assaults that are happening for teenagers. And some of those teenagers present as adults when they come looking for treatment. 'It should be the case that no child should arrive and land on a pornography site, and we need to put the onus actually on the provider to ensure they don't have children accessing the site.' Child poverty She also said that statistics have shown that over 100,000 children in Ireland are living in consistent poverty, 'feeling the grind of deep poverty and the isolation of social exclusion day in, day out'. This has been exacerbated by the housing crisis, leaving thousands of children living day-to-day in emergency accommodation. As well as that, children are living in overcrowded accommodation which is impacting their education and growth. On Monday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the National Economic Dialogue that recent increases in the number of children living in poverty must become a 'temporary spike, out of line with the overall trend'. 'Therefore, for Budget 2026, I have asked my ministerial colleagues to plan and come forward with measures that will really make the difference to the most vulnerable families and children,' he said.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Pension hikes of €12 still a ‘target' even as ministers walk back tax cut promises
Despite warnings of tighter purse strings and little to no tax cuts, ministers believe a €12 weekly increase in the pension 'has to be a target' and should announced as part of Budget 2026 in October. Government leaders are warning rising tensions in the Middle East and tariff threats from US president Donald Trump will mean a cautious approach is needed in the coming months. But both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael promised before the election that they would increase the pension to €350 per week over the next five years. That means annual increases of €12 on average. And while ministers appear prepared to backtrack on promised income tax cuts, a boost for pensioners is still very much in play. 'It has to be the target, because it'll be thrown against us if it's not. But at this stage, I doubt we'll be going against that,' one minister said. 'Everything we're being told at this stage is the envelope is going to be much tighter.' A weekly pension hike would spark a debate about what other social welfare payments, such as jobseeker's allowance, would also go up. Taoiseach Micheál Martin is understood to be keen on payments targeting children in poverty and the disabled. While splitting child benefit into two tiers is being considered, it is viewed as a difficult and costly exercise. Targeted payments for less well-off families, such as the Working Family Payment, are viewed by some within the Government as being a more likely system of providing extra cash to families who need it most. Yet a second tier of child benefit would be the 'most effective' way to tackle child poverty, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) will tell the Oireachtas social protection committee today. At a cost of €773m per year to the taxpayer, it would reduce the child at risk of poverty rate by 4.6 percentage points, the child material deprivation rate by 0.7 percentage points and the child consistent poverty rate by 2.1 percentage points. 'Our analysis suggests that any such reform should be designed carefully to avoid income losses for some households,' the ESRI's Karina Doorley will tell TDs and senators. 'The effects of a second tier of child benefit on work incentives should also be investigated to ensure they do not overly discourage employment.' Ministers do not expect any once-off cost-of-living payments under Budget 2026 but it is almost certain to include a 9pc Vat rate for hospitality. 'This will see people buying the second coffee, eating out and spending more and keeping jobs,' one minister said. 'The Budget will recognise there is no longer a cost-of-living crisis. The €12 weekly increase to pensions and other welfare rates is in line with inflation.'
Dublin Live
3 days ago
- Business
- Dublin Live
Social welfare Ireland: Taoiseach hints at child benefit shake up as 'nothing is off the table'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that all options for addressing child poverty - including a second tier of child benefit - are on the table for Budget 2026. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to "continue to support families with the cost of raising their family through the child benefit payment". It also commits to exploring a targeted Child Benefit. It follows calls for the introduction of a second tier of Child Benefit. Speaking at the National Economic Dialogue in Dublin Castle, Mr Martin said he had identified "two very key areas" that he wanted Budget 2026 to prioritise, including disability and child poverty. The Taoiseach said targeted Child Benefit and all other prospects will be explored ahead of Budget 2026 in October. He said: "We will be examining all aspects of [Child Benefit] and I have a [child poverty] unit within the Department [of an Taoiseach] that is focusing on these issues. I already spoke to Minister of Social Protection Dara Calleary on this, but nothing's off the table. "There's a wide menu there that we can choose from to target resources to meaningfully impact on the child poverty situation. That's not just in terms of income supports, but also in terms of other initiatives in education, for example, the Deis+, which would target children in particular severe disadvantage and other areas. "The Child Benefit remains, but I'm saying we're looking at more targeted responses on the child poverty issue, which can come across a number of instruments." When asked if it was too early to examine the prospect of a second tier of Child Benefit, the Taoiseach repeated that "nothing's off the table". He added: "We're examining all options in perspective. We have to do something targeted and something that will have a meaningful impact on child poverty. Nothing is off the table. There is a very significant expenditure required for something like that as well. There's a range of measures for looking at this." Mr Martin also called for a focus on disability in Budget 2026. This, he said, would include income supports for people with disabilities, investment in respite and supports for transport and mobility. He also said that progress on ending the means test for carers will "obviously come under consideration". Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
