Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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460. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the supports she provides for the indigenous film and television production sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33984/17]

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. The Film Board supports writers, directors and production companies across these sectors by providing investment loans for the development, production and distribution of film, television and animation projects. The Film Board also supports 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 Board liaises with IDA Ireland and Tourism Ireland to maximise opportunities for the promotion of Ireland as a location for film productions as well as a tourism destination. Information on its funding scheme is available on the Irish Film Board website atwww.irishfilmboard.ie.

In Budget 2017, I secured an increase of €2 million for the Irish Film Board, bringing the total allocation for 2017 to over €16m. This increase in funding will allow the Board to invest more in Irish talent and follows on from a very successful year for the Irish film sector, particularly the indigenous film sector, in 2016.

The other primary mechanism through which the Government supports the film industry is Section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 - the film tax relief scheme. My Department’s investment in the film sector 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.

The twin approach of direct funding and tax expenditure measures maximises the benefits of Government’s support to the audiovisual industry.

In addition to the supports outlined above the Creative Ireland Programme 2017 – 2022 which was announced in December 2016 is a cross-Government initiative to mainstream culture and creativity in the life of the nation and to promote individual, community and national well-being.

The objective of the fourth pillar of the Programme – establishing Ireland as a centre of excellence in media production – is to elevate the creative industries including media, architecture, design, digital technology, fashion, food and crafts together on an all of government basis. The initial focus of the Creative Ireland programme this year is to undertake to develop an industry-wide, long-term plan for Ireland as a global hub for the production of Film, TV Drama and Animation by the end of 2017. This objective is also reflected in the Action Plan for Rural Ireland given the importance of the film industry to rural Ireland.

In this regard, my Department has commissioned an economic analysis of our screen based creative industries, in partnership with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. This study will examine the economic impact including employment and the potential of the Irish film, TV and animation sector. Following an open tender process, Olsberg SPI Ltd in association with Nordicity, was selected to conduct the study in November last year. The commissioning of the study was also a commitment in the Action Plan for Jobs 2016. The recommendations of the economic study will inform the development of the plan envisaged under the Creative Ireland Programme and Action Plan for Rural Ireland.

On 5 May last, I hosted a very successful Media Production Workshop at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham which attracted attendance by representatives of the film, broadcast, animation and gaming industries.

The Deputy may also be interested to know that the Film Board and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland have jointly commissioned a report on the skills needs of the audio visual industry in Ireland. This report will be published shortly. My Department will consider recommendations contained in the report and working with stakeholders, will address any identified skills needs.

The outcomes of the economic study, the workshop held in Kilmainham and the report on the skills need of the industry will all input into the proposed Government plan for the audio visual industry in Ireland, which will be published in Autumn.

On a wider scale, the Government recognises the value of the film sector both nationally and regionally and as such, both the National and Regional Action Plans for Jobs has a number of Actions to further support the film sector. Further details can be accessed at this link.