Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

224. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she continues to engage with the film industry with a view to encouraging production filming and location here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8964/19]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Screen Ireland 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.  Screen Ireland supports these sectors by providing investment loans for the development, production and distribution of film, television and animation projects.

Both myself as Minister, and my Department, have a strong relationship with the film industry with meetings and other interaction taking place on an ongoing basis. In Budget 2019, I announced an increase of 14% to Screen Ireland bringing the total allocation to over €20 million.

During the course of my work I and officials in my Department continue to meet with the Chair and the Chief Executive Officer of Screen Ireland, and with representatives from the industry. In the last year I have visited the animation production studio of Brown Bag Films and Troy Studios.

As part of the Government's Audiovisual Action Plan, launched last June, I established an oversight steering group charged with the overall implementation of the plan's recommendations.  I have put this in place as previous strategic plans have lacked an agency or group responsible for implementation. The group includes representatives of all Departments and State agencies with involvement in the audiovisual industry. The steering group will report to me at regular intervals and is engaging proactively with stakeholders in the film industry. 

My Department continues to work with the Audiovisual High Level Steering Group to address issues raised in the audiovisual industry, and to support the industry and the people who work in it.