Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Costello for raising this matter. The background to the State's involvement with the Light House Cinema is that in February 2006 the then Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy John O'Donoghue, approved in principle an offer of capital grant assistance of €1 million towards the development of the Light House Cinema in Smithfield, Dublin. The project began construction in March 2007 and was officially opened in May 2008. The Department's grant was towards the fit-out costs of the project rather than construction costs. Further State funding of €750,000 for the project was provided from the Cultural Cinema Consortium comprising the Irish Film Board and Arts Council.

The capital funding for the Light House Cinema was provided from the Department's capital development subhead for arts infrastructure. The purpose of this capital development is to support the further development of arts and culture in Ireland. Integrated arts centres, theatres, museums, cinemas and galleries as well as arts studios and other creative and performance spaces have been provided with funding. This capital funding has been widely acknowledged as a significant intervention in the provision of quality cultural spaces throughout the regions.

Anyone who has visited the Light House Cinema will agree that it fits into the category of a quality cultural space and has been an important addition to the cultural life of Smithfield in particular and Dublin in general since it opened nearly three years ago. The cinema has four screens with 600 seats and presents a diverse and individual programme of the best Irish, independent, foreign language, arthouse and classic cinema. It is important that as many types of cinematic tastes as possible are catered for in a large city such as Dublin and the Light House Cinema has played an important role in delivering this film diversity.

Film and film making is of great value to Ireland, financially and as a cultural asset. As part of this whole process, quality outlets such as the Light House Cinema are required to show the completed film product. There is now more than ever greater global competition in securing film and television productions. Ireland continues to hold its own, thanks to the work of the Irish Film Board, our impressive talent pool of directors, writers, actors and technical crews and the various supports on offer. This support manifests itself through various mechanisms, including the section 481 tax incentive for film and television production in Ireland, which, as announced recently, is being extended until the end of 2015.

The audiovisual sector plays an important part in Irish society in economic and cultural terms. Film, as part of the audiovisual medium, is an area in which Ireland continues to excel, as evidenced by the success of Irish productions which secured numerous awards at international level in recent years. Such productions include the films "Once", "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" and "Garage", all of which were shown in the Light House Cinema.

I hope the Light House will remain open and will do as much as possible to ensure it does. Obviously, I must await the outcome of the High Court hearing next week. In that regard, the Office of the Chief State Solicitor has been informed and is examining the relevant legal documents. It is important to acknowledge that the State's investment is protected through a charge on the property. This charge allows that if the Light House ceases to operate from the premises in Smithfield in the first five years of its operation - as it opened in 2008, we are well within the five year window - the Minister can choose either the repayment of the State grants or can agree with the Cultural Cinema Consortium which would occupy the building for the remainder of the lease in order that the premises will remain in use as an arthouse-cultural cinema centre.

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