A working group has been set up within EIAI to focus specifically on the needs of our contractors, staff, performers, crew and volunteers. Over the coming weeks and months this group will be researching and assessing actions that can be taken to address specific requirements.  This group are specifically representing you so if you have a question or if you’d like this group to address a specific issue please use the form below to contact them directly.

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht – Supports for those working in the Arts Sector*

New Information Booklet Available for Download: COVID-19 Support and Information for the Arts Sector

* NOTE: All workers in the Events Industry are now officially considered part of the Arts Sector.

Measures to assist those impacted by the COVID-19 crisis (to date):

• the COVID-19 Income Support Scheme, incorporating:
  • the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment;
  • the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme;
• an Enhanced Illness Benefit payment;
• measures to assist with housing costs; and,
• measures to support businesses.

Queries

For further assistance on any of the measures outlined below following engagement with the lead Government Department responsible, artists and those working in the cultural sector can email artsunit@chg.gov.ie with their query and contact number. 

Cross-Government measures

COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

If a worker has lost their job or been temporarily laid-off as a result of the COVID-19 crisis and had been in employment or self-employment immediately before 13 March 2020, they may be eligible for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, which has been, since 24 March 2020, been payable at a rate of €350 per week by the Department Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

This payment also applies if a person is a part-time worker or is self-employed and their trading income has ceased due to COVID-19.

A self-employed person may, if their trading income has collapsed to the extent that they are available to take up other full-time employment if it was offered to them, receive a payment of €350 per week for so long as they are available to take up other work. Individuals should contact the DEASP Income Support Helpline for COVID-19 (01 248 1398 or 1890 800 024) directly with queries regarding eligibility for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.

Details of this payment may be found at gov.ie/deaspcovid19 and answers to frequently asked questions prepared by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection can be found here.

Jobseeker’s Benefit

Jobseeker’s Benefit is a payment for people between 18 and 66 who become fully or partly unemployed and have paid enough pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contributions. A recipient may claim an additional increase for an adult dependent and child dependents. The Government increased the rate for an adult dependent to €147 on March 2020.

The Jobseeker’s Benefit will be higher than the €350 per week COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment if a recipient has at least one adult and one child dependent, or, at least four child dependents.

More details on the Jobseeker’s Benefit may be found here.

Short-time Work Support

Employees of businesses that need to reduce hours or days worked can avail of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Short-time Work Support.

Supplementary Welfare Allowance

Workers who are laid off temporarily or put on short-time working and who still face financial distress can apply for additional emergency income support, in the form of Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA), which is a means-tested payment.

Details on the SWA can be found here.

Enhanced Illness Benefit

When a worker is told to self-isolate by a doctor or the HSE or has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (Coronavirus) by a doctor, they can apply for an enhanced Illness Benefit payment. Since 24 March 2020, the personal rate of this payment has been increased to €350 per week.

Details of on the new enhanced Illness Benefit payment may be found at gov.ie/deaspcovid19

Measures for tenants

From 27 March 2020, new emergency measures were introduced through Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 to protect tenants during the three-month COVID-19 emergency period by temporarily banning evictions and freezing rents for three months.

Details on these new measures, including income supports available for certain people living in private rental accommodation, may be found here.

The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government has indicated that Housing Assistance Payment will not be affected due to COVID-19. More information can be found here.

If you are interested in looking at other types of work, please ensure that you have filled in our Boots on the Ground Survey.

In the mean time there are a number of opportunities available in the following areas.  We will continue to update this section as other opportunities arise.

Licenced Security Roles

Prior to Covid-19 there was already an ongoing shortage of licenced security personnel in Ireland.  While events are not taking place at the moment there is still a huge need for licenced security in other industries. Training for a P.S.A. Temporary Licence (Static) takes a day and is included as part of initial training and induction programmes conducted by security companies. Once you have a job offer you will be able to apply for the licence here.  Note: there is a €20 fee associated with the P.S.A. Licence itself and, in most cases, employers will submit your  application on your behalf.

There are currently over 1,500 jobs available nationwide, here’s a link to get you started:  https://ie.indeed.com/Security-jobs

Ryans Cleaning

With (closed door) horse racing and similar events getting back on line there is a need for additional cleaning personnel.  Ryans Cleaning will have a number of openings in the coming weeks and months and all required training is available in-house.  If you’re interested please send your CV directly to pat.ryan@ryanscleaning.com

There are a range of funds available through different agencies such as SOLAS (FÁS), Skillnet, the Department For Social Protection, and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF). 

These subsidised training schemes are designed to fund short term training courses for jobseekers that have identified work opportunities. These financial supports, in the form of allowances, provide students with the chance to train or upskill, which may then hopefully lead to employment opportunities.

Below are details and links to each of these funding opportunities:

Training Support Grant (TSG) – Department Of Social Protection
http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Training-Support-Grant.aspx

Training Allowances & Funding – SOLAS (FÁS) Grant
http://fas.ie/en/Allowances+and+Grants/

Due to the success of AIST’s recent Online Stagepass Course they are hosting another online Stagepass Course on the 23rd & 24th June 2020.

Places are restricted to members of AIST only and cost €20 per person. If you would like to attend please email info@aist.ie to purchase a ticket.

Membership of the AIST is currently free as a goodwill gesture during the time of Covid-19 and can be signed up to here.

The course will be run over 2 mornings.

Part 1 Tuesday 23rd June – 9:30 to 13:30 and Part 2 Wednesday 24th June – 10:00 to 13:30.

The course will be given via Zoom, a free to download video conference application. Available to download here.

The course notes will be provided via email. The evaluation will be conducted through two stages, an online multiple choice exam using Google Forms at the end of the second session and a short project to be sent in via email.

Stagepass has become the preferred safety awareness training for the theatre industry with over over 1,500 Stagepass holders. The course is theoretical and is similar to Safepass but designed for the theatre and entertainment industries.

The Stagepass Course aims to promote good work practice and to create a safe and effective working environment in technical theatre by establishing a required minimum knowledge base for all technical theatre practitioners. This encompasses both general areas of safety and health at work and areas of safe work practice and health particular to the area of professional stage and theatre production.

There are ten units in the Stage Pass Course covering:

• Safety Culture, Duty of Care and Legal Responsibilities
• Personal Risk Assessment and Manual Handling
• Management of the Working Environment, Stage Protocol and Communication
• Set Assembly, Storage and Housekeeping
• Fire Safety
• Signage, Evacuation Access and Egress
• Chemical and Environmental Hazards including Noise
• Electrical Safety
• Working at heights
• Rigging

Ancroo live is just the start of an industry wide change, as individuals come together to build a more supported and brighter industry. Join them at http://www.ancroo.live/listen-live.html as they broadcast daily shows, the first step of a wider project to support the Welfare, Mental Health, Safety & Skill Sets provided by dedicated professional event crew.  

Minding Creative Minds is an organisation established to offer a free 24/7 wellbeing & support programme for Irish musicians, songwriters, artist managers & event production crew.

Dedicated 24/7 Helpline

ROI: 1800 814 244
NI/UK: 0800 0903677
International: +353 1 518 0277

Access to experienced team of trained counsellors and psychotherapists who can offer short-term intervention and advice covering practical, day-to-day issues that cause anxiety and stress

Counselling Service

Short term intervention – up to 6 sessions.  This includes face-to-face counselling and video or telephone counselling.

Extensive web portal & app/live online chat feature

The Minding Creative Minds platform & app enable a live chat function with a counsellor 365 days per year, 7am – 10pm daily.

Other Services Offered

• Advice on practical, day-to-day issues that cause anxiety and stress.

• Legal Assistance – Consultation with Irish solicitors, including those specialised in family law matters, property conveyancing and criminal law.

• Financial Assistance & Consumer Assistance – Consultation with qualified financial advisors who can offer advice on household budgeting, borrowing/debt management, retirement planning, saving & investments.

• Career Guidance & Life Coaching – Access a panel of career coach specialists for career guidance.

• Support for non-Irish nationals & their families – helping to make the transition into the Irish system as smooth as possible.