Written answers

Thursday, 17 September 2009

Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism

Film Industry Development

6:00 pm

Photo of Catherine ByrneCatherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the Irish Film Board and the work it does; if he will maintain the IFB and guarantee funding into the future to ensure that indigenous Irish film is fully supported. [31903/09]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Primary responsibility for the support and promotion of film-making in Ireland in respect of both the indigenous sector and inward productions is a matter for the Irish Film Board (IFB). This agency is funded through my Department and is independent of the Department in its operations. The IFB, with overall funding for 2009 of €21.8m, continues with its key role of developing and supporting film production in Ireland. The provision in its current allocation facilitates the IFB in marketing Ireland as a film location and, in particular, in raising the profile of the Irish audio-visual industry abroad.

The capital funding provided to the IFB has ensured support to meet the demands of the industry in the areas of project and talent development, training and indigenous film and television production and enables the IFB to fulfil its aim of sustained growth of the industry – increasing the number and quality of films produced in Ireland each year.

In tandem with supports from the IFB, my Department's primary operational role in supporting the film sector relates to the administration of elements of the Section 481 tax relief scheme. This scheme is kept under regular review in conjunction with the Irish Film Board and any enhancements necessary to retain or regain competitiveness are addressed and brought to the attention of the Minister for Finance as appropriate. The scheme was amended and enhanced in the Finance Acts of 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and most recently in 2008. The amendments in 2008 extended the scheme for a further four years until the end of 2012, increased the overall ceiling on qualifying expenditure from €35m to €50m, increased the individual investor cap for those wishing to invest finance in film in Ireland under Section 481 to €50,000 per annum from the previous limit of €31,750 and increased the relief on that investment to 100% from 80%. Approval from the European Commission to introduce these changes was secured in March and the Minister for Finance subsequently signed the Commencement Orders on 16 March. Clearly, this shows a long-term commitment by the Government to the Irish audiovisual industry.

I would like to assure the Deputy that I will be articulating the benefits to Ireland of having a vibrant film industry and that the proposals in the Report of Special Group on Public Sector Numbers and Expenditure Programmes (McCarthy Report) have not been adopted by the Government as policy but will be considered in the context of the 2010 estimates debate.

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