Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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206. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she continues to have discussions with stakeholders in the film industry with a view to maximisation of opportunities for film making here and the promotion of Irish scenery as a film location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31411/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Film Board is the national development agency for Irish film making and the Irish film, television and animation industry. The Board supports and promotes the Irish screen industries at major international markets and festivals, promotes inward investment, the use of Ireland as a location for international production and provides support for companies filming in Ireland. The Film Board also liaises with IDA Ireland and Tourism Ireland in terms of maximising joint opportunities for promotion of Ireland as a location for film productions. Examples of this could be seen during Ireland’s success at the Oscars this year and the promotional activity around the shooting of Star Wars in Ireland.

In terms of the film industry in general the Programme for a Partnership Government contains a very important commitment to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to improve. The Deputy may wish to note that Budget 2017 will include an increase of €2 million for the Irish Film Board. This will bring the Film Board’s annual funding to over €16.5 million, and represents a 14% increase in its annual budget. The increase in funding will allow the Board to invest in even more Irish talent in the year ahead, and it follows on from a very successful year for the Irish film sector in 2016.

My Department’s investment will also help to maximise the benefits brought about by the Government’s enhancement of the Section 481 film tax credit system, including the decision to increase the cap for eligible expenditure on film projects to €70 million, as announced as part of Budget 2016.