asked the Taoiseach if it is his intention to reconstitute Bord Scannán na hÉireann; and the plans he has for the future of the Irish film industry.
Ceisteanna — Questions Oral Answers - Irish Film Industry.
23.
I do not propose to reactivate Bord Scannán na hÉireann. The tax reliefs under section 35 of the 1987 Finance Act, the 10 per cent rate of corporation tax and the business expansion scheme now provide for the first time an incentive for the development of a commercially successful film industry. An indication that this is happening is a Córas Tráchtála estimate that the export value of the film sector will amount to £20 million this year, a 60 per cent increase on 1987.
I have already outlined, in response to Question No. 47 on Wednesday 14 October, 1987, the basis on which we plan the development of the Irish film industry.
Will the Tánaiste accept that the recent films made by an Bord Scannán na hÉireann, now defunct, were of exceptionally high quality and reflected very well on the Irish film industry as it was being nurtured by the board? Will the Tánaiste agree that now there is a danger that a lot of the expertise gathered under Bord Scannán na hÉireann may be dissipated under the newly announced system? Will the Tánaiste give details of the co-ordinating body that will try to put together a distinctively Irish film industry in the absence of Bord Scannán na hÉireann?
As policy stands Bord Scannán has gone and we are seeking to encourage and stimulate small film makers to get into this business to a greater degree. That is happening and it is estimated that the export value of such films will show an increase of 60 per cent on 1987 and will amount to £20 million. We do not want a bureaucratic structure to do this but certainly we will look at ways and means of encouraging people who are experienced in the business to get involved. Our policy appears to have been successful so far and we will continue along that path.
I should like to put a direct question, one put by Bord Scannán na hÉireann. My question is, what provision does the Tánaiste propose to make, and what institutional arrangements does he propose to introduce, for the provision of seed money for the writing of film scripts and the development of films? Will the Tánaiste agree that his answer, in which he quoted section 35 of the 1987 Finance Act which deals with the business expansion scheme and so on, dealt with incentives for export earnings from finished films but did not address what Bord Scannán na hÉireann was doing well, the provision of seed money and money for script writing?
The Deputy is injecting new matter into the question. The question before the House is specific but the Deputy is seeking to enlarge on the scope of it.
My question to the Tánaiste was specific.
I have concluded.
My question could be put simply, will the functions of Bord Scannán na hÉireann be fulfilled by any other institution? Will the activities of Bord Scannán in providing seed money for the film industry be continued by any other organisation?
I have told the Deputy that we can by way of direct incentives stimulate the type of development the Deputy has mentioned. We do not want a board to do that.
Who will do it?
That is being examined.
Is the Tánaiste aware that the success of the film industry which he referred to derived not from the new incentives given but from the original work done by Bord Scannán na hÉireann in providing seed money and so on? In view of that will the Tánaiste consider establishing a substitute organisation to do some of the work, at least, at a lesser cost than Bord Scannán na hÉireann?
The Arts Council do that work.
They have no provision for it.
The Arts Council have provided seed money.
They have not.
I am talking about two separate organisations. It is my belief that under the Arts Council we can provide the type of seed money referred to by the Deputy.
The Government should give them some money to do that.
Will the Tánaiste tell the House how much money was given to the Arts Council for use by Bord Scannán na hÉireann in the last financial year?
That is a separate question.