Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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133. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which his Department continues to support the film industry here; the degree to which external film interest continues to engage in the sector in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19706/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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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). The IFB is the statutorily independent agency responsible for the promotion and development of the Irish film industry and I have no responsibility in relation to its day-to-day operational matters, including policies and the allocation of resources to different support programmes and schemes.

My Department's operational role in supporting the film sector relates to the administration of elements of Section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 that provides tax relief for investments in qualifying films. This involves the administration of certain elements of the scheme regarding satisfying cultural criteria. The types of film eligible for certification are feature film, television drama, creative documentary and animation. As Deputies will be aware, the benefits of film and television production in Ireland include not only job creation in the industry itself but also hugely positive spin-off effects for promoting Ireland as a tourist destination and as an industrial location for all aspects of creative endeavours.