Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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444. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the support she provides for the indigenous film and television production sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37089/16]

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. Its statutory remit is to assist and encourage the making of film in the State and the development of a film industry in Ireland. In Budget 2017, I secured an increase of €2 million for the Irish Film Board, representing a 14% increase in its annual budget. This increase in funding will allow the Board to invest more in Irish talent in the year ahead and it follows on from a very successful year for the Irish film sector, particularly the indigenous film sector, in 2016. The Programme for a Partnership Governmentcontains 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.

In addition to the funding provided to the industry by the Irish Film Board, section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides tax relief towards the making of film in Ireland. The twin approach of direct funding and tax expenditure measures maximises the benefits of Government’s support to the audiovisual industry.

The Irish Film Board also supports the Irish screen industries at major international markets and festivals, promotes inward investment, promotes the use of Ireland as a location for international production and provides support for companies filming in Ireland. The Board liaises with IDA Ireland and Tourism Ireland to maximise 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.