Vol. 571 No. 4
376 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will report on the revenue generated to the Exchequer by the film and television drama industry here, in total, over the past ten years, and each year over the past ten years. [22125/03]
The information requested by the Deputy is not available to my Department.
377 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the total number of film and television productions which have benefited form the section 481 tax incentive scheme over the past ten years; and the number benefiting for each year over the past ten years. [22126/03]
A total of 283 film projects have been certified under section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, formerly section 35 of the Finance Act, 1987, as amended, from June 1994 to date as follows:
|
1994 |
11 |
|
1995 |
48 |
|
1996 |
31 |
|
1997 |
32 |
|
1998 |
32 |
|
1999 |
35 |
|
2000 |
28 |
|
2001 |
23 |
|
2002 |
22 |
|
2003 |
21 to date. |
378 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will report on the anticipated impact on the film and television drama industry here of Government plans to eliminate the section 481 tax incentive by December 2004; his views on whether the resulting uncertainty in the industry means that major projects will inevitably be lost to the film and television drama industry here in view of the fact that film companies must plan two to five years ahead; the impact he anticipates this will have on the approximately 4,000 jobs in the industry; and his views on the call to retain the section 481 scheme. [22127/03]
I am well aware of the concern that exists within the Irish film sector about the future of the section 481 scheme, and that international film investment is very mobile, with decisions on where to make a film often based on a forensic analysis by producers of the competitive environments in all possible locations. Certainty about the future is obviously important in a business where projects have such a long lead-in time. I will be discussing all the issues arising in this context with my colleague, the Minister for Finance, in the near future.
