As part of Budget 2025, announced today, almost €380 million is set to go to arts and culture. €35 million will go to what Minister Catherine Martin has referred to as "the world-leading" Basic Income for the Arts – funding the initiative beyond the end of the three-year pilot scheme.

Launched in 2022, the pilot scheme is examining the impact of a basic income on artists and creative arts workers over a three-year period. Payments of €325 per week are being made to 2,000 eligible artists and creative arts workers, who have been selected at random.

Last week, arts organisations presented a petition, featuring 10,000 signatures, calling for the Basic Income for the Arts to be retained, extended and expanded.

Scott Santens, a notable US-based advocate of universal basic income, welcomed the scheme's extension this afternoon: "I hope this also leads to more serious discussion of UBI in Ireland!"

The Screen Composers Guild of Ireland also responded to the "excellent news", stating that the Basic Income for the Arts scheme "has had a life changing impact on SCGI members who have participated in the pilot."

🟢€35m for the world-leading Basic Income for the Arts pilot in 2025, the scheme is now funded beyond the end of the three-year pilot in August.

🟢overall increase of 6% for the Gaeltacht including increases of €2.25m for Irish Language Support Schemes & €1.9m for @UdarasnaG

— Catherine Martin TD (@cathmartingreen) October 1, 2024

The Arts Council will also receive its largest ever funding in Budget 2025, of €140 million – though it falls behind their request for €160 million.

"I believe that Ireland holds a unique position in the world, where our culture, ár dteanga and our artists are the beating heart of our society," Minister Paschal Donohoe commented today. "There are record numbers visiting our national cultural institutions. Irish writers are some of the best in the world – giving us pause to reflect on the world around us, to make sense of it or, indeed, to escape it entirely for a moment."

Meanwhile, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland – the national agency for the Irish screen industry – has welcomed the introduction of an 8% uplift to the film tax incentive, aimed at supporting local feature film production with Irish creative talent.

“On behalf of the Board of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, we’d like to sincerely thank Minister Catherine Martin and Minister Jack Chambers, for their continued support of the Irish screen industry, and recognition of its power and potential," said Ray Harman, Chair of the Board of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland. "The uplift in the tax incentive has significant potential to expand the depth and breadth of local industry filmmaking, continuing to build creative opportunities for local talent within the sector.”

A 20% tax incentive for unscripted production was also announced in today's Budget.