Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A new enhanced credit for small- to medium-sized feature film productions is being introduced. The enhanced credit, which will form part of the long-standing section 481 film tax credit, will provide an additional 8% credit for film productions with a maximum qualifying expenditure of €20 million. This will provide for a total support of 40% for in-scope productions.

I have been lucky to go through what I think is my eighth Finance Bill and my first as a Minister of State in the Department, having sat on the finance committee and been part of these debates in both Houses. This point should be made that this is an issue that routinely comes up. We all say we support the film industry, the many jobs that are created by it and the reputational benefit it brings to the State, but how we show our support is actually backing it by these credits and listening to the workers in the sector, the vast majority of whom have a positive experience. As Senator Gavan will know from his own professional experience as well as my previous ministerial experience, for any issues that are counter to that, there are mechanisms to deal with them already.