Written answers

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs

Tax Code

9:00 pm

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has considered extending section 481 tax relief to the digital content creation industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5236/12]

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Under section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, tax relief is allowed for investments in certain films and TV productions. The types of productions eligible for certification are feature film, television drama, creative documentary and animation. The scheme is kept under regular review in consultation with the Irish Film Board and any changes considered necessary are brought to the attention of the Minister for Finance, as appropriate. The scheme was amended in the Finance Acts of 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 and, most recently, in 2011. The amendments in 2011 extended the scheme for a further three years until the end of 2015.

The whole area of the development of the Irish audiovisual industry, including incentives to build strong companies, was examined during the preparation of the Creative Capital Report –Building Ireland's Audiovisual Creative Economy . The Report was published in July and an Implementation Committee is at present examining the advancement of its recommendations. I am expecting a report from that Committee around Easter. This strategic review will focus on issues regarding talent development, convergence, sectoral growth, education and the digital opportunities for Ireland, as well as reporting on industry leadership, State agency roles and innovation. It will provide a road map for the next few years and will assist in enabling the domestic audiovisual content production sector to develop into an internationally traded sector for product and services over a five year period 2011 to 2015.

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. This agency is funded through my Department and has been allocated €15.7 million in 2012 to carry out its functions.

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