Concerns over ‘incredibly low’ uptake of artist welfare scheme

The Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty has promised to investigate what she described as the “incredibly low take up” of a pilot welfare scheme for artists.

Figures released to The Sunday Business Post in recent weeks revealed that only 24 writers and visual artists were availing of the scheme at the beginning of the year.

Introduced by the government last June, the initiative classifies qualifying artists as self-employed allowing them access to ...