Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To be clear, this was a commercial deal. It was negotiated commercially. There was a guarantee for the workers and I believe their future is secured in terms of there being investment in Ardmore Studios. I visited the studio some time ago. It badly needed investment. This is an opportunity to expand the facility there. The Deputy talks about planning permission. Both he and I know that it is the preserve of the elected members of Wicklow County Council to change the zoning of any area. That is outside my control and that of the Deputy. I am quite sure that when the local authority sees the advantage of this investment in Ardmore, it will be quite happy to make sure that it remains a location for the film industry. Altering the current zoning restrictions cannot be done without the agreement of Wicklow County Council. The State will continue to support the film sector through the Irish Film Board, tax incentives and other measures. The Irish Film Board also welcomed the acquisition of Ardmore Studios by Olcott Entertainment Limited. It stated that:

The Studios continue to represent a vitally important part of the infrastructure of the Irish film industry. It is very heartening to hear about the commitment of the new owners to their investment in and the development of these historic studios.

There is a commitment on the part of the new owners to invest in the site.

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