Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As a tax relief, section 481 is a matter in the first instance for my colleague, the Minister for Finance. It is a film tax credit, which provides a critical support for the Irish production sector, generating thousands of jobs and providing a strong value proposition for the public purse. As the Deputy noted, the existing tax credit extends to 31 December 2020. 

The Department of Finance is now undertaking a full review of section 481 in line with tax expenditure guidelines in advance of any formal decision to extend the extension of tax credit. My Department is working closely with the Department of Finance on an ongoing basis on the issue, including the provision of information for input into the review.

Pillar 4 of the Creative Ireland programme focuses on Ireland's potential to be a global leader in film production, TV drama, documentary, children's storytelling and animation. Central to this pillar is the production of an audiovisual action plan, which I will publish very shortly, on 27 June, and which will aim to put in place a strategic and coherent approach to making Ireland a leader in this sector. The audiovisual action plan is being informed by a number of key inputs including a report by economic consultants Olsberg with Nordicity entitled, An Economic Analysis of the Irish Audiovisual Sector, which includes policy recommendations; the outcomes of a media production workshop at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, hosted by my Department last year under my predecessor, which was attended by over 150 representatives of the film, broadcast and animation sectors; and a report on a strategy for the development of skills for the audiovisual industry in Ireland, which was commissioned jointly by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and the Irish Film Board, prepared by consultants Crowe Horwath. The plan will also be underpinned by the Government's capital investment plan.

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