Basic Income for the Arts pilot produced over €100 million in Social and Economic Benefits

For every €1 of public money invested in the pilot, society received €1.39 in return

The net cost of the BIA pilot went from €105m to under €72m due to tax generated and savings on social welfare payments

The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, is today publishing a cost-benefit analysis of the Basic Income for the Arts pilot. This report builds upon internal and external research conducted to date.

The findings of this external report from Alma Economics show that the real net fiscal cost of the BIA pilot over the period 2021–2025 was just under €72 million. Audience engagement with the arts generated an estimated €16.9 million in social value over the three pilot years, based on willingness-to-pay estimates for cultural participation. The most substantial social gain came from improvements in psychological wellbeing, contributing almost €80 million to total benefits.

It also finds that recipients’ arts-related income increased by over €500 per month on average, while their income from non-arts work decreased by around €280. Dependence on social protection declined, with recipients receiving €100 less per month on average, and 38 percentage points less likely to receive Jobseeker’s payments.

Minister Patrick O’Donovan said:

The report also explores the programme’s effects across groups defined by gender, disability status, career stage, art form, and personal or household income; as well as the possible impact of a large-scale scheme.

The report can be accessed here. To request the paper in a format that is accessible to you, please email press.office@ccs.gov.ie or call 01 6437610.

Notes

Benefit-Cost Ratio of the BIA pilot

Fiscal costs of the BIA pilot

Social benefits of the BIA pilot

Notes: All benefits are shown in 2025 values.