Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Given that we are talking about the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, I presume that Fís Éireann was the original name which was translated into English and not the other way around. It baffles me as to why, having called it Fís Éireann, the Department did not call it Vision Ireland but my puzzlement will continue.

Given the price of residential land in the Bray area, is the Minister concerned that there is a significant possibility that the Ardmore site might be rezoned as residential land? In such circumstances, it would be impossible to ensure the site would be retained for film making in the context of profitability. Does the Minister agree that there is an absolute need to have ready-made production facilities in this country if we are to continue to attract major film and screen projects?

Deputy Josepha Madigan:I have no control over what a local authority decides to do into the future but the site cannot be used at the moment for non-film industry development without the agreement of Wicklow County Council to alter the current zoning restriction.

The Olsberg report was published on foot of an economic analysis of the Irish audiovisual industry. It found that the industry generated almost 17,000 jobs in 2016 and added almost €1.1 billion to the economy, which could increase to €1.46 billion. The headline figures in the report relate to radio production as well as film, television, animation, commercial advertising and video game production.

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