asked the Minister for Communications the proposals he has to facilitate the development of television programmes by Irish independent producers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Television Programmes Development.
28.
There are two specific areas under my ambit as Minister for Communications whereby this sector of the audio-visual industry can be helped to develop. The first is through the contribution which RTE can make, and indeed have made, through the commissioning of programmes from the sector in question. In this regard and in the context of increasing their homeproduced material RTE has targeted a proportion of its annual programme budget at the sector and the amount involved has steadily increased from £1.3 million in 1987, £2 million in 1988 and £2.2 million in 1989.
The introduction of the third television channel will also constitute a major stimulus for the sector in question. In this regard a specific provision was included in the Radio and Television Act, 1988, requiring the Independent Radio and Television Commission to ensure that a reasonable proportion of the service included original programme material from the independent production sector.
The operation of these measures will be kept under review and will be strengthened or added to as necessary in the period ahead.
Will the Minister say if the RTE approach of gradually pushing up the proportion to the 5 per cent level, which it has reached, is adequate or would he favour setting some form of quota for independent production, as has been done elsewhere? Is the Minister satisfied with the tax relief aimed at independent film producers specifically under section 35 of the Finance Act, 1987? Will the Minister say if that has made the impact he hoped or will he be advocating changes?
The Deputy will recall the answer given by the Taoiseach earlier today in relation to section 35, that the response has been disappointing and its effect has not been as productive as we had all hoped it would be. The matter is being reviewed. I am reluctant to involve RTE, or others, in quotas but the public have shown that there is a demand for home-produced programmes. I favour the method being used by RTE of continually increasing the level of outside production. They have now reached the quota, if there was a quota, of 5 per cent. That is the figure put forward in the EC Directive and in the document issued by the Council of Europe. I have no doubt that the independent service will meet the requirement laid down in the Act for a reasonable proportion of their service to include original programme material from the independent production section.
Has the Minister had any approaches from the independent producers regarding their happiness, or otherwise, with the terms under which work becomes available to them?
The group representing film makers, and other, have been in touch with most Deputies.