Vol. 531 No. 1
30 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the amount invested by the Irish Film Board in the past five years; the amount of this investment recouped; if she is satisfied with the rate of recoupment of investment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4981/01]
The investment by the Irish Film Board in the past five years for which final figures are available, 1995-99, is £21,115,000. Loans provided by the Irish Film Board fall into four distinct categories: development loans, production loans for the production of feature films and television drama schemes for the development of new talent, completion loans and loans for documentaries Production loans for the production of feature films and television drama is the only area where the board has significant potential to recoup. The investment in feature film and television drama for the period in question was £14,850,000, of which £1,270,500 was directly recouped. It is estimated by the Irish Film Board that of investments made in this period, a further £730,000 will be recouped by mid-2001. The anticipated recoupment for investments over the period is, therefore, £2,000,500. It should be noted that the board is a development agency and its investment therefore needs to be seen in broader terms than just the recoupment of loans. I am satisfied the board is operating effectively in carrying out its statutory role as the national development agency for the indigenous film sector.
