Lack of accountability means artist supports are 'a slush fund'
Carol Nolan was commenting on the response by Arts Minister Patrick O'Donovan to queries about the initiative.
Mr Donovan said: 'The current pilot scheme costs approximately €35million per year, based on 2,000 recipients receiving €325 weekly. ' The lack of accountability when it comes to artists' basic income means the scheme has turned into a Government slush fund, a TD has claimed. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos
The net cost is likely to be less, given the high number of BIA [Basic Income for the Arts] recipients who were previously on social welfare supports prior to the BIA.'
Mr O'Donovan also said 'evaluation of the pilot is continuous, as participants complete a survey every six months'.
He said: 'My department is currently preparing a report examining the first 24 months of the scheme. A further interview research paper, written by an independent researcher, was published recently. Carol Nolan was commenting on the response by Arts Minister Patrick O'Donovan to queries about the initiative. Pic: Collins
'This paper collects the experiences of 50 BIA recipients, who have been interviewed by a sociologist.' Ms Nolan called the response 'almost absurdly laughable'.
She said: 'It is clearly stated in the reply provided to me that the evaluation of the pilot is continuous because participants complete a survey every six months.'
The Independent TD asked: 'Does the department really think this is what robust evaluation looks like [and] does it believe that a slush fund that has cost €100million to date is going to be criticised by the very same people on the receiving end of that cash?'
Ms Nolan accused Fine Gael TD Mr O'Donovan of implementing outdated Green Party ideology, as it was imple – mented by former arts minister Catherine Martin, adding: 'The entire scheme just reeks of that particular form of cultural entitlement to vast sums of public monies that is particularly pervasive in the likes of RTÉ where control of publicly financed spending is way down the list of priorities.'
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