The Ireland-Wales Shared Statement has six areas of co-operation
and includes a commitment from both countries to learn from each
other and share best practice.
The Minister met the Irish Government’s Joe O’Brien, Minister of
State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and
the Department of Social Protection, to discuss how relations
between the Welsh and Irish Government could continue to be
strengthened.
In a two-day visit to Dublin, , Minister for Social Justice and
Chief Whip, attended several cultural and business events.
This included a St David’s Day reception with partners from
across government, industry, education and culture in Ireland, as
well as the Welsh diaspora community.
During her time in Dublin the Minister met with the National
Youth Council of Ireland and two of their Climate Youth
Delegates, Oileán Carter Stritch and Jennifer Salmon, who are
seeking to build a relationship with the Future Generations
Commission team in Wales.
She also met with senior executives from the leading clinical
research organisation ICON, which has been investing in Wales and
expanding its workforce in Swansea.
The company has been growing its Swansea office over the last
four years and is forging stronger links with universities in
Wales, as it bids to take on more graduates and fill highly
skilled roles in the life sciences sector.
Minister also met Conor Falvey Assistant,
Secretary General with responsibility for Arts and Culture, and
Nadia Feldkircher, Lead Researcher on the Irish Government’s
Basic Income for the Arts pilot, to discuss the strengths and
challenges of such schemes.
Each pilot scheme has a different target audience in each
respective country.
The Welsh Government’s Basic Income for Care Leavers in Wales
pilot scheme has been targeted at a cohort of around 630 care
leavers and is due to conclude in 2025.The formal enrolment
period for the pilot ran for a year and ended on 30 June 2023.
Evaluation of the pilot scheme is ongoing. A statistical
breakdown of the cohort enrolled was published last year, whilst
the first evaluation report was published last month.
The Irish Government’s Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme
will examine, over a three-year period until April 2025, the
impact of a basic income on artists and creative arts workers.
Payments of €325 per week are made to 2,000 eligible
artists and creative arts workers who were selected at random and
invited to take part.
The Minister and lead official discussed the strengths and
challenges of Basic Income schemes, as well as what could be
learnt from each other about the respective initiatives.
Minister said: “It has been a
privilege to reaffirm our commitment to the Ireland-Wales Shared
Statement and Joint Action Plan 2021-25 during my time in Dublin.
“St David’s Day has been a perfect opportunity to showcase our
culture overseas and engage with our Welsh diaspora community.
“We are committed to learning from each other and sharing best
practice, including through the likes of Basic Income schemes and
the Future Generations Commission.”
Minister Joe O’Brien said: “The
celebration of St David’s Day here in Dublin, and that of St
Patrick’s Day in Cardiff later this month, show the warm and
growing relations built on the deep historical and cultural ties
between our two peoples.
“We are committed, including through the Ireland Wales Shared
Statement, and today’s visit by Minister Hutt, to bringing Wales
and Ireland closer together, deepening our cooperation and
strengthening connections.”
Notes to editors
Pic captions:
Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip with Irish Government Joe O'Brien
Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip with ICON Chief Human Resource
Officer Joe Cronin
Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip with a choir at the St David's
Day reception
The Minister also visited University College Dublin, to hear the
strength of connection between Irish and Welsh academia and
research, and a forestry project in Ticknock Forest, to hear how
they manage the project and focus on community engagement.
The formal enrolment period for the Basic Income for Care Leavers
in Wales pilot ended on 30 June 2023. This pilot’s delivery has
always been scheduled to last for three years in total,
concluding in 2025.
Between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023, those turning 18 and
leaving care were offered £1,600 each month (£1,280 after tax)
for two years to support them as they make the transition to
adult life.
On 19 September 2023, monitoring data reflecting the enrolment
year was released. The statistical release is distinct to the
broader ongoing evaluation.
Written Statement: Basic
Income Pilot six-month update (9 March 2023) | GOV.WALES
Basic Income for Care
Leavers in Wales pilot statistics: August 2022 to January 2023 |
GOV.WALES
Basic Income for Care
Leavers in Wales pilot statistics: August 2022 to July 2023 |
GOV.WALES
Written Statement: Basic
Income for Care Leavers in Wales – publication of first annual
evaluation report (22 February 2024) | GOV.WALES
Basic income for care
leavers in Wales pilot evaluation: annual report 2023 to 2024 |
GOV.WALES
