To ask the Minister for Communities whether there is evidence to suggest an increase in the participation of disabled people in the arts over the last five years.

The Continuous Household Survey (CHS) provides official statistics on participation in the arts. Data collected through the CHS of adults with a disability participating in the arts is demonstrated in the table below.

In comparison to previous years for which data is available, the last five years show an increase in the participation of disabled people in the arts from percentage rates in the low twenties to rates in the high twenties to early thirties. The average participation rate over the last five years is 29%.