asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the amount spent to date on the purchase, etc. of Ardmore Studios, County Wicklow; and the use being made of these premises.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ardmore Studios Purchase.
27.
The total cost of the purchase of Ardmore Studios was £411,678. Other advances amounting to £82,795 have been made to cover certain fees, the running of the studios and the purchase and replacement of equipment.
The studios have been used for both feature and commercial film production since their acquisition, and in addition they have serviced on location the production of feature, documentary and commercial films.
Is the Minister satisfied that the State investment of a sum well over £½ million has been justified in the use that has been made of Ardmore studios? Is is not true that very little use has been made of the studios? Was it the Minister's intention, when the purchase was made originally, to use the studios to establish a home-based industry? Does he now feel that objective has been achieved or is there any possibility of it being achieved in the near future?
Please, Deputy Molloy, let us desist from having questions in an omnibus form.
There are a lot of questions there. Firstly, on the matter of arithmetic the adding together of £411,000 odd with £82,000 odd does not come to well over £½ million on my arithmetic.
Just under £½ million.
On the matter of the usage of the studios I have been satisfied with that. I am, furthermore, satisfied that had the State not stepped in at that time the studio as a place where this work can continue and where very expert staff can continue to find employment would have ceased to exist. The arrangement whereby it is run for us by RTE is not a satisfactory continuing arrangement. I am in fact in the position that there is now such a backlog of work in the House that I am in difficulty about introducing my Film Bill. I am contemplating some other mechanism to try to sort out the Ardmore situation, because I cannot contemplate further delay in regard to it which may be necessitated when I would have to wait until the Film Bill is law.
The Minister stated that the studio has been used for feature and commercial films. Is part of the studio grounds used for any other purpose?
I would require notice of that. As far as I am aware no, but if the Deputy, who is for that constituency, asks me about this he must have some information to the contrary. I was not aware of its use for any other purpose, but I will find out.
Has the Minister any breakdown on what the ESB bill for Ardmore studios is?
That is a very definite separate question.
The Minister mentioned that a sum of over £82,000 had been advanced since the initial purchase. Is the Minister aware that this place is continually lit up in hours of darkness?
The Deputy is raising extraneous matter.
I can answer questions of which I have notice but I cannot give useful answers without notice.
Will the Minister look into it? It is ridiculous to have the place lit up.
(Interruptions.)
Order. Deputy Molloy, for one final supplementary.
In view of the fact that the State expenditure is in the region of £½ million which I am sure will be exceeded when it is all added up—but taking £½ million as being more or less the commitment which has been entered into on a decision made by the Minister, is he aware that the activities being carried on in this building since it was acquired at his request, on a decision of the Government, have not been solely confined to film making, have not contributed in any major way towards the establishment of a film industry here? The Minister seems not to be aware that these premises are being used on occasion as some form of night club. Has the Minister taken any interest in the building since committing £½ million of the taxpayers' money to its purchase?
There are a whole lot of supplementaries again. I certainly take an interest in the building. As a result of that expenditure, first, we have a valuable property and secondly, we have the continuity and consolidation of a facility which, although the Deputy may not agree with me, I think is extremely valuable and is an essential basis for the development of an Irish film industry. A film industry does not come into existence fully grown on a certain day. The continuing work and the continuing holding together of a group of people with very high skills is itself an important contribution to the future.
Is the Minister aware of the other extraneous activities?
I am not so aware.
It is a shame.
Question No. 28.