Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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11. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the State will maintain its current stake in a studio (details supplied) and ensure it is maintained as a going concern; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4122/17]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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17. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the actions she will take to ensure that a studio (details supplied) is maintained as a working film studio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4123/17]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The Minister was talking about creating jobs in the previous question. This question is about keeping jobs. We discussed this last week, both the future for Ardmore Studies and the jobs, hundreds directly and thousands indirect, that are dependent on the studio. I seek an update as to what the Minister has done and what she knows about the efforts to secure the future of Ardmore Studios as a working film studio and to maintain the jobs and its critical importance in the Irish film industry.

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 17 together.

Ardmore Studios is a commercial entity, owned 68.33% by private interests and 31.67% by the State. The State's shareholding is managed by Enterprise Ireland, EI.

Enterprise Ireland inherited the stake from NADCORP, the former State investment agency, in 1986. As a passive investor, EI has no enterprise development role in Ardmore or any involvement in its day-to-day operations.

While Enterprise Ireland offers supports to exporting companies involved in film and the creative sector, policy responsibility for the development of the film industry rests with my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Heather Humphreys.

The sale of the Ardmore Studios is a commercial decision by the owners of the studios. Ardmore Studios is being placed on the market for sale as a going concern.

Enterprise Ireland has not placed any preconditions on the pending sale of Ardmore Studios due to the existence of planning restrictions on the site which safeguard its use as a film-making studio into the future. Wicklow County Council has recently confirmed to me that it agrees to maintain the film-only zoning as a matter of policy. At the appropriate time, any proposal requiring a decision on the sale of Enterprise Ireland’s shareholding will be reviewed by Enterprise Ireland in consultation with me, as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. In turn, I will consult the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I thank the Minister for her response. To take up the last point, will she give us a commitment that not only will she consult with the Cabinet but she will also consult the Dáil on any decision about the disposal of Ardmore? While I welcome the fact the Minister is talking about it as a going concern, and I obviously welcome the commitment of the county council to retain the zoning, which would mean it cannot, for example, be sold off for housing, if we do not definitively secure its future as an operating film studio, zoning can change further down the line. That, in itself, does not secure its long-term future. While I take the point that Enterprise Ireland is not in the business of running film studios, the State has to make a clear commitment that it is going to maintain the studio. There needs to be joined-up thinking between Creative Ireland and the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in terms of understanding that the Government has to guarantee its future. If necessary, if we cannot get a buyer, we should think about the workers buy-out proposal or the State buying over the rest of the shareholding.

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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It is for sale as a going concern. It is also zoned for film production. The only way that can change is if the councillors in County Wicklow vote for that rezoning to be changed. I held a meeting with the county manager and many of the representatives from Wicklow County Council, as well as with the Wicklow Oireachtas representatives. I also met the workers and I have given them a commitment that it is for sale as a going concern. I have also given them a commitment that the Action Plan for Jobs for that region contains a plan to develop film. If that is in the action plan, why would I make sure not to do that in regard to the sale of Ardmore Studios? I, like the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, want to see a viable film industry at Ardmore Studios.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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It would be helpful if the Minister could let us know when the zoning is next up for review, if she has that information available. With regard to a different but linked enterprise, will the Minister revert to me with information on the level of support the Department or its agencies have given to the development of Troy Studios in Limerick, which is also in the film business?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I do not doubt for one second that the Minister and just about everybody else who is concerned with this wants to retain the studio as a going concern, so I am not questioning that. What I am saying is that while the retention of the film-only zoning is very much to be welcomed, in itself it does not guarantee that somebody will come in and buy it, and keep it as an operating studio. I would like to have further confirmation that, if some outside buyer does not come in with a guarantee to retain it as a working studio, the State will commit to do whatever is necessary to retain it as a working studio. I hope somebody comes in, and I know the workers also hope that, because the problem is then solved. However, if that does not happen, we could have a problem. We need to have a plan B, which means looking at options like the possibility of supporting a workers buy-out or, if necessary, the Government buying the rest of the share and having the studio retained and supported under public ownership.

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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In response to Deputy Niall Collins, while I do not have that information with me, I will be very glad to give it to his new colleague, Deputy Donnelly, in the next few days.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Why not give it to me? I asked for it.

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I will give it to Deputy Niall Collins and to Deputy Donnelly. I have met him on two occasions already on the issue of Ardmore Studios. I will send Deputy Niall Collins the information in regard to Troy Studios.

In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett, we have a very viable film industry in Wicklow. For example, Irish films have taken an impressive €145 million at the worldwide box office in 2015 and 2016. Like Deputy Boyd Barrett, I hope some good, reputable film production company buys that site. I am not sure the State would be able to manage film production studios in any way.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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What about a workers buy-out?

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The workers can.