Vol. 465 No. 3
116 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the number of persons or companies that have been granted certificates under section 35 of the Finance Act, 1987; the total value of the film projects involved in the issue of these certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9429/96]
Since I assumed responsibility in 1994 for the certification of film projects under section 35 of the Finance Act, 1987, (as amended), I have to date granted certificates to 90 film and television productions. Under the Act, certificates are issued only to production companies, not to individuals. The total value of these 90 projects, as reflected in the total value of the production budgets, amounts to some £298 million.
The retention, in this year's budget, of the section 35 scheme, which had been due to expire in April of this year, now enables the film industry to plan ahead with certainty for the next three years.
