asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has any proposals to bring self-employed artists within the scope of the social welfare legislation; if so, the precise benefits such artists would be entitled to; and the manner in which they would be classified.

21.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the extent to which a painter or sculptor or someone otherwise engaged in a full time capacity in the visual arts in Ireland can benefit from our social welfare provisions.

: With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together.

Any person engaged in a full-time capacity in the visual arts in Ireland who is employed under a contract of service would be insurable under the Social Welfare Acts as an employee and eligible for benefits and pensions under those Acts.

Self-employed artists, like all other self-employed persons, are not at present insurable under the Social Welfare Acts but they may avail of the social assistance services, all of which are subject to a means test. Children's allowances are, of course, payable to all persons with qualified children regardless of means.

As the Deputy is no doubt aware, a Green Paper on Social Insurance for the Self-Employed was published last January with the aim of stimulating a general and informed discussion on the subject. Interested parties and organisations representative of various groups of self-employed were invited to submit their views. When all submissions have been received and examined, I hope to be in a position to formulate an acceptable scheme for the insurance of self-employed persons including artists.

: Has the Minister sought submissions from the Arts Council on the specific needs of self-employed artists?

: No, but there is nothing to prevent the Arts Council submitting their views on that matter.

22.