Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I welcome the positive approach the Minister is taking to this issue. The boundary between ordinary digital animation film and gaming is gradually disappearing. While gaming is a complete mystery to me, the marriage of creativity and high technology involved in it makes it a perfect outlet for young Irish people.

I have been informed that the education side of the gaming sector needs to be strengthened. Will the Minister discuss this possibility with the Minister for Education and Science? Some of the young people nominated for academy awards studied at the Ballyfermot College of Further Education and in Carlow. If we want to establish a new centre similar to the International Financial Services Centre, we must ensure the educational aspect of the audiovisual sector is strengthened. While gaming is high-tech it has low capital investment requirements. It does not require large studios such as Ardmore Studios, for example, and work can be done in a back shed on the Long Mile Road. For this reason, significant investment should be made in the educational element. I ask the Minister to speak to his colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, on the matter.

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