Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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473. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding funding for the independent film & television sector in Ireland; the measures he will be putting in place in light of the decision to not proceed with a levy (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37332/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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As Minister, I understand the importance of ensuring that we work to preserve, promote and support the production of film and television programming, particularly by small, independent and community-based producers.

The Sound and Vision Scheme supports audiovisual programming that aligns with certain themes and criteria aimed at promoting our culture, our history and our heritage. The Scheme, now in its fourth iteration, has provided essential funding support to the media sector as a whole.

Since 2020, over €73m has been awarded through the Scheme to television projects, offering significant support to primarily independent productions.Last year, the Sound and Vision Scheme supported 210 projects, providing over €22.7m in funding to the media sector, with the majority of funds going to independent productions.

So far in 2025, over €7.8m has been awarded through Sound and Vision in support of over 100 projects.

I would like to highlight the many ongoing supports provided to the film sector, in addition to the Sound and Vision Scheme, through grant funding from Screen Ireland as well as through the Section 481 film tax relief.

The tax relief is being enhanced this year through the Scéal uplift for smaller independent films. ‘Scéal’ provides for an additional 8% tax relief under the Section 481 (from 32% to 40%) for feature films and animated feature films.

I, along with the Minister for Finance and the Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, signed the regulations commencing this uplift in May of this year. This is a positive change to the Section 481 Film Tax Relief Scheme which will benefit the Irish Film Industry, Irish senior creative film workers and Irish cinemas.

In addition to the existing measures in place, the Revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill, for which I received Government approval on 8th April this year, provides that RTÉ will be required to spend at least 25% of its public funding on content commissioned from the independent production sector. Furthermore, RTÉ and TG4 will also be excluded from receiving direct public funding from the Media Fund, in order to ensure that all funds go to independent producers and commercial media outlets. This is on the basis that RTÉ and TG4 are already in receipt of significant public funding to deliver on their statutory public service objects. While RTÉ and TG4 are excluded from directly applying, independent producers will still be able to use RTÉ and TG4 as broadcast partners.

I fundamentally believe in supporting the Irish independent production sector, as reflected by the supports currently available to the sector. I will continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the independent production sector continues to be appropriately supported in the longer term.