Mr. Paul Cummins:

Go raibh maith ag baill an choiste as ucht an deis a thabhairt dom é sin a thaispeáint. In 2006, Telegael acquired the Roger Corman Film Studios in Baile na hAbhann, County Galway. One of our first live-action productions for TG4, "Aifric", won the Irish Film and Television Awards for best young people’s series three years in a row and has been adapted into many international languages. Our productions have been translated into over 50 languages and sold in 180 territories. We have partnered with international broadcasters, co-producers, distributors and streaming platforms. Co-production with other international producers is very much our model.

The Irish screen sector has enjoyed huge international success of late. According to figures by Screen Ireland, Ireland saw a record-breaking €500 million spend across the sector in 2021. However, some 75% of this amount comes from inward production, meaning productions from overseas who are shooting here and partnering with an Irish company to access the section 481 tax credit. This brings high levels of employment, training and skills in addition to increased local spend. On the other hand, following the expiry of the section 481 regional uplift, production levels outside of counties Dublin and Wicklow have decreased, pointing to several challenges facing the Irish screen sector.

Companies of scale are needed in the regions. Most productions and spending are concentrated around a relatively small number of Dublin and Wicklow-based companies. Shooting in the regions involves additional travel and accommodation costs, which has an impact on budgets. Ireland faces heightened competition from countries offering more attractive incentives and tax credits. Our public broadcasters, RTÉ and TG4, lack the financial capacity of larger overseas counterparts and this reduces the investment Irish co-producers can bring to the table.

While initiatives such as the Screen Ireland nationwide additional production fund are welcome, it is important that it prioritise regionally based producers over short-lived regional shoots, which provide little long-lasting benefit to the locality. Regionally based producers are rooted in and committed to their region and communities. Studios like Telegael in County Galway and Cartoon Saloon in Kilkenny serve as regional anchors, nurturing local talent and economies by building hubs and providing employment, skills and opportunities for a wide range of local talent, including directors, writers, artists, animators, designers, technicians, post-production teams and composers as well as local acting talent, including children for on screen voice acting. Telegael has established important relationships with third level colleges in our region, specifically Atlantic Technological University, ATU, in Galway, University of Galway, Technological University of the Shannon, TUS, in Limerick and Athlone TUS. We work with them to help structure courses to service the industry needs.

The dynamics of animation and live action differ significantly. While live-action producers generally rely on freelance talent and crews, animation studios employ permanent staff year-round and make significant and ongoing investment in studios, technologies and training. Animation’s significantly longer development and production lead times require sustained investment and financing. Animation productions can have a long shelf life and are easily revised into other languages. Animation producers who can retain a share of the intellectual property, IP, in their productions have the potential to generate future revenue streams, including licensing and merchandising, which can add value to their enterprises.