Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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48. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of and the income generated for each €10 million increase of section 481 film industry tax relief each year; and the number of persons employed in projects which benefit from this tax relief. [15257/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act of 1997 provides that a payable Corporation Tax credit will be paid directly by the Revenue Commissioners to a company who produces a qualifying film.

The amount of the credit is 32% of the lowest of:

- eligible expenditure (which is generally the amount spent on the employment of eligible individuals, goods, services and facilities in the State),

- 80% of the total cost of production of the film, or

- €70 million.

On the assumption that the Deputy is referring to the €70 ceiling per film as set out above, the Revenue Commissioners estimate that an increase in that ceiling by €10 million, could have a maximum cost to the Exchequer of €3.2 million per film. However, it is important to state that many films would not breach the existing ceiling and thus an increase in the ceiling would not necessarily incur any additional cost to the Exchequer in respect of such films.

The Deputy will appreciate that film projects do not begin and end to coincide with calendar years, which means it is difficult to provide definitive figures for any particular calendar year. Nevertheless, I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that applications for relief were received in respect of 73 qualifying films during 2015 and the following information is based upon an analysis by the Revenue Commissioners of the information accompanying those claims:

- Forecasted expenditure on employment in the State was €97 million.

- Forecasted expenditure on goods and services was €70 million.

- Forecasted full time equivalent jobs created was 1,257.

- Actual amount eligible for relief in 2015 was €161 million.

- Amount of relief authorised €51 million.