Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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45. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she plans to promote the expansion of the film industry here with particular reference to the creation of a greater international awareness of Ireland as a suitable location for the industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47375/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Fís Éireann 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. Fís Éireann 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. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that €20.04m is to be allocated to Fís Éireann under Budget 2019. This is an increase of €2 million on the 2018 figure .

Fís Éireann 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. 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 April of this year, I was joined by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance in launching Investing in Our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018 – 2027. This is a capital investment plan and it provides funding of €200m for the audio visual industry and media production through Fís Éireann over the next 10 years. In June 2018 I launched my Department’s €200m 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 Plan is informed by and accompanied by the publication of the Olsberg/SPI with Nordicity Report which sets out a detailed economic analysis of the audiovisual sector and provides an invaluable framework for the growth of the industry over the coming years.

A steering group has been set up which will prioritise measures, oversee implementation and monitor risks, and will report regularly to me as Minister.

I am glad to report that Budget 2019 also included an announcement that Section 481 which is the Irish tax incentive for film, television and animation has been extended to 2024. A time-limited Regional Uplift of 5% is also being introduced for the film tax relief.