Written Answers. - Job Creation.
Eric J. Byrne
Question:
54
Mr. E. Byrne
asked the
Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht
if he has satisfied himself with the long-term, indigenous job creation opportunities afforded by the terms of section 35 of the Finance Act; the plans, if any, he has to review the various incentives available in respect of film making with a view to further maximising job creation in the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3203/96]
I am satisfied that the integrated range of strategies which I have put in place to develop the Irish film and television production industry offer significant prospects of long-term indigenous job creation in the industry.
The IBEC economic database records the factual employment position in respect of all films supported by section 35 and-or Bord Scannán na hÉireann in 1993 and 1994. This indicated that 4,191 persons or 480 full-time job equivalents. were directly employed in these projects in 1993. For 1994 the figures were 12,784 persons, or 1,115 full-time equivalents. When employment figures are taken for both the direct and indirect impact of the State incentives, it is estimated that some 1,228 full-time job equivalents were secured in the industry in 1993 and 1,957 in 1994, representing an increase of 59 per cent over the previous year. Membership of SIPTU's film and television section gives a good index of the increasing level of activity in the industry. I understand that in December, 1991, the section had 496 members. In March, 1994, this figure had increased to 735. By the end of 1994 it stood at 815 and at the end of January, 1996, it stood at 1,292.
With regard to the plans I have to review the incentives for film making, it was announced in the recent budget that section 35 will continue for a further three years. Some modifications have been made in the current scheme having regard to the in-depth review carried out by Indecon Economic Consultants into the operation of the section 35 scheme. The continuation of this scheme to 1999 will make a major contribution to confidence in the industry and allow for our indigenous producers to plan ahead.
A key area in ensuring that we maximise the employment potential of the film industry is that of training. Following the publication of the STATCOM report a "Training Needs to 2000" for the independent film and television production sector in Ireland, a national training committee for film and television production has been established to oversee the implementation of the training recommendations in the STATCOM report. In support of this, £2.58 million is being provided to me under Ireland's Operational Programme for Industrial Development 1994-99 for film industry human resource development. In addition a further £250,000 annually, subject to demand, will be provided by FÁS out of its mainstream funding. Finally, STATCOM, the committee of State bodies and agencies involved with the film industry, on which my Department is represented, operates to co-ordinate the activities of these agencies so as to address the remaining obstacles to the committee's full development and to optimise the various elements of State support for the film industry.
