Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make a contribution on the audiovisual industry, specifically on the section 481 regional film development uplift programme. Without it, we would not have experienced our success to date and enjoyed the economic contribution that film provides. Every country in the world has a film tax credit and ours is no different from many others. The incentive in implementing the uplift programme was to encourage more production outside the major urban centres of Dublin, Wicklow and Cork. Can we do more to incentivise more regional productions? There are additional costs of up to 8% for regional productions, but this critical element of shooting regionally is not factored into the programme. Perhaps the Minister could speak to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, about trying to increase regional production and enhancing the regional film development uplift.