asked the Minister for Education whether he has considered the desirability of establishing an educational film unit for the making of educational films suitable for exhibition in our schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Educational Films.
The Department of Industry and Commerce and my Department had under consideration a scheme submitted in August, 1948, for the establishment of a full-time educational film unit in this country.
Both Departments were satisfied that the advantages which would flow from the establishment of the unit, as proposed, would not be commensurate with the capital and annual recurring expenditure which would fall on the Exchequer.
Is the Minister not aware that there are facilities now available within close proximity to the city for the production of short films, and does he not think, where there is a private enterprise of that nature, that arrangements might be made to produce such short films as might be educationally or otherwise found necessary by Government Departments?
At the present moment a grant of £1,000 a year is made to the National Film Institute, which is developing an interest in that particular class of work. They have a fairly substantial library of about 800 films and they are doing a considerable amount of renting. Very few schools are equipped with projection apparatus and no State grant is made to any schools to enable them to provide themselves with such.
Is the Minister aware that the unit to which Deputy Derrig refers has already produced a short film dubbed in Irish and does he not consider that it would be desirable to give every encouragement to such a venture?
The question that has been put down to me refers to the establishment of a film-making unit in the country.
Is the Minister aware that the necessary technical equipment is available within a short distance from the city and with that equipment a short film has been made with the sub-titles dubbed in Irish?
I will be glad to get in touch with any developments of that kind. I do not know whether the National Film Institute is connected with it, or is observing what is going on. So far as it is possible to meet a developing demand in the schools for a service of this kind, I will undertake to keep the situation closely under review and help in any way I can. On the question of dubbing in Irish, that is a matter that is being considered. The use of Irish in films generally is a matter that is engaging our attention at the present time, but I do not see any immediate solution of some of the difficulties there.
Will the Minister get a report from the institute as to their position and what attitude they are adopting towards the development of the industry? Is the Minister aware that cinemas in the city have refused to show news-reels dubbed in the Irish language, and what action does he propose to take in this connection?
I am not aware of that.
It was stated here in the course of a recent debate.
Is the Minister aware that the Department of Education was engaged in making a start with the dubbing of short films in Irish, and that half a dozen had been completed before he entered into office? In view of the fact that the Government's attitude towards the spending of money has changed, surely he might review the matter and see whether the Government could not afford a few thousand pounds for the dubbing of films in Irish now that they can give over £80,000,000 for general expenditure?
I would remind Deputies that we are now getting into general matters. In reply to the definite question that was asked, I have indicated that the matter was examined in August, 1948. It was then found that the expenditure that would have to be incurred to establish it straight away would be £27,000. That would be for the setting up of the equipment alone, apart altogether from the building in which it would be set up. It would also involve an expenditure of something like £15,000 a year. This would be a recurring expenditure. These were the circumstances in which both the Department of Industry and Commerce and the Department of Education were satisfied that what would result therefrom would not be worth the sum of money involved.
Now that the position is changed and that the building and processing plant is here, which means that the expenses would be a lot less than the Minister has indicated, is he prepared to give a guarantee that he will have the matter reconsidered?
The question before me is whether I would consider the desirability of establishing an educational film unit here. If it has been established here, I suppose that represents a certain amount of progress along the road, and creates a different situation from the situation envisaged in the question. I can assure the Deputy that the matter will be kept fully under review.