Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge what Senator Malcolm Byrne said. The fact the Department is, in the context of the Finance Bill, extending the main relief available under the scheme for all counties for another four years is an indication that it fully supports the general scheme. It is a nationwide scheme.

On assisting particular regions, the Senator will be aware the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media recently announced funding of €2 million for the establishment of five new national talent academies in Wicklow, Limerick, Galway and Dublin for film, television, drama, animation and production crew. Various local authorities are active in this area through their arts offices in facilitating local projects. IDA Ireland is working in this area to increase facilities in different regions. In the context of the Finance Bill, which is currently going through the Oireachtas, there are no plans to extend the uplift.