Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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112. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of support provided to an organisation (details supplied); the benefits from same for County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39807/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The organisation referred to by the Deputy 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. As part of its remit, it Ireland 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 as well as supporting the Irish screen industries at major international markets and festivals and the use of Ireland as a location for international production and provides support for companies filming in Ireland. It also 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.

In June 2018 I launched the Audio-visual Action Plan. The industry-wide, long-term plan, under the Creative Ireland Programme, will support the Government’s ambition to enable Ireland to become a global hub for the production of Film, TV drama and animation.

This Audiovisual Action Plan sets out an agenda to further develop the Irish Audiovisual Industry and in that context my Department will work with all sectors of the industry to address any barriers to continued success.

The Government’s capital investment plan Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018-2027 provides for funding of €200m to be invested in media production and audio visual industries over the next 10 years, which will have a positive impact right across the country including in County Kildare.