Irish government to start paying musicians basic income of €325 a week

Ireland’s government has approved plans to permanently implement a basic income scheme that will support up to 2,200 artists, creative workers and musicians next year.

After being piloted in 2022, the Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) scheme will now become permanent under Budget 2026, secured by the Minister for Culture, Patrick O’Donovan.

The scheme originally aimed to “address the financial instability faced by many working in the arts”, encouraging artists and creative arts workers to apply for a weekly allowance.

Participants in the new permanent scheme will receive €325 a week, with payments made monthly. Those eligible will be able to apply from September 2026.

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The scheme will provide continued support for creative workers and their practices after analysing a “control group” through the pilot to discover how the grant impacted participants, many of who reported reduced financial stress and increased time spent on creative work.

Though initially planned to accommodate 2,000 artists, RTE reports that the scheme could support another 200 if additional funds are made available, and could grow even further in the coming years.

The payment is taxable, taxes paid depend on individual circumstances, and will also operate separately from welfare payments.

Read this next: New study reveals 84% decline in number of nightclubs in Ireland since 2000

"I will bring a successor scheme to government with the intention of embedding a permanent basic income in the arts and culture sector," O’Donovan says. "This scheme is the envy of the world, and a tremendous achievement for Ireland, and must be made futureproof and sustainable."

In July, a new study from Give Us The Night found that the number of active nightclubs in Ireland fell from 522 to 83 in the space of 25 years.

The report revealed an 84% decline in the number of nightlife venues in the country since 2000, citing the rise of free-entry late bars, outdated laws, and other financial pressures.

Find out more about the Basic Income for the Arts scheme here.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter