Just two percent of the successful applicants to the Government's new artist income support scheme are from the Shannonside Region.
2,000 people working in the arts sector across the country, including musicians, artists and writers, have today been granted a basic income.
47 local artists were among those selected from over 8-thousand eligible applicants and will get 325 euro a week under the pilot scheme.
Leitrim has received the highest local allocation, with 22 artists granted the payment.
While 16 and 9 creative producers in Roscommon and Longford respectively are set to start receiving the support.
Arts Minister Catherine Martin says they include people from all art forms, ages groups and counties;
It's a really important research project over the 3 years.
We will be assessing the impact on the creativity, the output and the well being of artists.
I believe it is a historic moment and a positive move in how Ireland values it's artists.
