Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for being here. He has had a busy day in the Seanad today and we appreciate that. I support this Bill, the Irish Film Board Amendment Bill 2025. It is, as the Minister of State says, a very technical Bill, but also crucial to the sustained support of the audio, visual and film industry in Ireland. Essentially, it raises the ceiling on the total cumulative amount that Screen Ireland can invest in the making of Irish films and training in all aspects of film-making, from that €500 million figure to €840 million. Now €340 million is obviously a huge sum of money for the Department to find to fund the industry, so it is encouraging to read in the brief that the proposed legislation will not mean any additional cost to the Exchequer. The proposed increase to the limit of funding is an enabling provision, as I understand it. This is because, as at 31 December 2024, an amount of €467.63 million had been provided by Screen Ireland since 1980. As such, the amount provided by Screen Ireland since its inception is obviously close to the current statutory limit of €500 million. A ceiling increase to €840 million is welcome and, frankly, crucial.

Given we are speaking about audiovisual production in Ireland, I want to acknowledge today's announcement by the Minister, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, that significant investment will be sustained via Screen Ireland to build on recent successes in film and television production. This will have a hugely positive impact on organisations such as Screen Producers Ireland, the national representative organisation of independent film, television, animation and digital companies. With more than 220 company members, Screen Producers Ireland is recognised as the voice of independent audiovisual production in Ireland and is a key stakeholder in the landscape.

I call for future discussion around a section 481 regional uplift. Notwithstanding the two uplifts the Minister of State mentioned, there were calls for an 8% regional uplift in the most recent budget. I know Screen Producers Ireland was grateful for the Minister's understanding and support of the proposal, so perhaps it could be tabled for future discussion at the next opportunity within the Department. At present, as colleagues can imagine, production is heavily concentrated in Dublin and Wicklow, leaving all other regions less developed. An upload for productions filmed outside of Dublin and Wicklow could offset higher costs, develop local talent, support regional economies and build sustainable production capacity nationwide. An additional regional incentive would allow the sector to grow organically through production hubs across Ireland, ensuring we have balanced regional development in the screen production sector. It would also enable crews, actors and production infrastructure to build sustainably across the country and support the economic and cultural life of areas outside of Dublin and Wicklow.

The Bill states that training in all aspects of film-making is included in the increased funding ceiling. As such, it is important to ensure that we have visible pathways for our young people who wish to make a life and a career in the arts and the audiovisual industry. This Bill will allow for funding to be sustained and that will have a positive effect on the lower rungs of the industry, which serve as a window or gateway to the industry. An example of one such gateway is the work done at FamiliBase in Ballyfermot, which I visited recently. Young people are given the opportunity to learn about music, video and film production with access to and the use of recording studio and videography equipment. The dedication and work of the staff at FamiliBase provides young people in this area with an avenue for expression and to learn about production of short films and video. While visiting their centre, I had the chance to get a sneak preview of a piece of work that was ongoing, where some local transition year students were exploring the effects of drug use on young people from the perspective of young people who have started using drugs and fallen into debt. It was a powerful expression of life through art and important for them to have the opportunity to explore this issue through performance and production. With the increased funding ceiling for Screen Island under this Bill, I would like to see that Screen Ireland in future could allocate additional supports to youth services like FamiliBase, so that they can continue to provide and enhance this important medium of expression for young people from all backgrounds, and ensure that barriers are reduced through the artistic medium of videography. These young people are the future to the talent academies that the Minister of State mentioned.

I thank the Minister of State for his time in bringing this Bill to the Seanad. I fully support the Bill and look forward to the future investments in indigenous film and the production industry.