It is my pleasure to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to the House. She is a very popular visitor.
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Mary Butler. I am sharing this Commencement matter with Senator Eugene Murphy. We met with Annette, Cathy, Martina and Nora. These are all people who work in Portiuncula University Hospital in Ballinasloe. These are people who were on the front line all during the pandemic. They were our hospital warriors in the face of Covid-19. They were our warriors that went out every single day and left their families at home when we were asked to stay at home. When we were asked to keep people safe, they were asked to keep people safe by going to work. They put themselves on the line. These are contract cleaners and caterers. They work with Noonan's and Aramark, particularly in the Saolta University Hospital Group. They worked 12- or 14-hour shifts and they did what was asked of them, as many of us did. We came together as a country to fight this battle.
The pandemic recognition payment is a recognition by the Irish Government on behalf of the Irish people to staff who worked on the front line. We have an estimated 125,000 people, HSE and section 38 staff, who have now received this payment. Let me say again, it is a payment totally in recognition of the work that was done. However, a number of other categories remain. Our question here is what are the categories that are left? What about the clarification of contract cleaners and caterers for the pandemic health care payment? Are cleaners and caterers part of this? Do we have an estimate of the remaining payments and timelines now that we have a new provider? What is that going to be? I really appreciate the Minister of State's time on this. We really need to have fair and equal treatment for people who have worked so hard to keep everyone safe and to save lives. Members of my own family worked in cleaning. I have worked in cleaning. All through college I was involved in this kind of work. These people were on the front line for us. Go raibh maith agat.
I thank Senator Dolan for her timing. I want to ensure that Senator Murphy gets two minutes or else he might think I was acting in a partisan fashion.
You are always very fair and of course your Roscommon connection makes sure you are always so.
I have to be. Otherwise I would be in trouble.
Our health is our wealth. It is really fantastic to see the Minister of State back here in good form and I thank her for letting me know the good news two weeks ago. I am delighted for her because at the end of the day good health is what we all wish for. Many people get challenges with their health every day of the week. I am just going to endorse what Senator Dolan has said. I think she has given the story as it is. We met with those people. Cathy and the others met us with their SIPTU representative in Gullane's hotel in Ballinasloe last week. These people are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis to rear their families. They are doing a very good job and they are coming up with what I would call an embarrassing situation for the Oireachtas.
I accept the Minister met these workers somewhere in Galway city in recent weeks, possibly at the university hospital, and that he was sympathetic. I acknowledge he is trying and that the Minister of State is quite annoyed about the situation. We are told this work is being out sourced to a company. The reality is we should get on with whatever has to be done and try to get that money paid to those people for Christmas. It is simply not right and it is embarrassing for us that it is happening and we need to get it out of the way. I have no more to say about that.
I thank Senators Dolan and Murphy. They are setting a very good standard of working for a common objective in the constituency. I invite the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Butler, to respond.
I thank both Senator Dolan and Murphy for raising this really important issue. In January of this year, to recognise their unique role and extraordinary efforts, the Government announced a pandemic recognition payment for front-line public sector healthcare workers. The pandemic recognition payment was introduced to express the appreciation of Government for those working in front-line environments exposed to Covid-19. Significant efforts have been made to progress the payments under this measure and it has been extremely frustrating. As the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people, I have found it particularly frustrating.
These payments are the result of extensive efforts by Department of Health officials and the HSE. To date, more than 124,000 eligible front-line HSE and section 38 healthcare workers have been paid. This means the vast majority of these eligible front-line workers have now received the pandemic recognition payment. A wide variety of front-line workers within the HSE and section 38 organisations are eligible for this payment. Support staff such as cleaning and catering staff, among other groups, are included once they meet the eligibility criteria set out. There are also certain non-HSE and non-section 38 healthcare workers who are encompassed by the Government decision. Included in these groups are eligible staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices; section 39 long-term residential facilities for people with disabilities; agency roles working in the HSE; healthcare support assistants contracted to the HSE, who went into houses day after day during the pandemic; members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE and did Trojan work in supporting nursing homes and the roll out of the vaccine; and paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The Department of Health has been working with the Department of Defence and the Local Government Management Agency to expedite and ensure the payment of eligible members of the Defence Forces seconded to Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE as well as Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics. The Department of Health has now transferred funds to Dublin City Council and the Department of Defence to allow for these payments to be completed as soon as possible. Payments to these eligible workers will be arranged by their employers. Anyone who was contracted directly by the HSE received their payments in a timely manner, but we have seen many areas where that did not happen. I am glad to see the issue of payments to members of the Defence Forces and the Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics has been expedited.
In August 2022, the HSE published an invitation to tender for a third-party contractor to assist with the payment process for eligible non-public sector workers. The Minister of Health, Deputy Donnelly, has instructed the HSE to use a simplified process to expedite payments to non-HSE organisations and the HSE and KOSI Corporation have now finalised a process to ensure the payment of these workers. I have spoken several times to the Minister regarding this and he is extremely frustrated by the slow pace of the delivery to the non-HSE workers and in rolling out the payments. Last week, information packs began issuing to relevant organisations. Packs have now issued to more than 750 organisations, including nursing homes, disability facilities, agency organisations and home care organisations. Organisations which make prompt returns can expect to receive funds in the coming weeks and I know everybody will welcome that.
Government is mindful of other workers who played their part in sustaining services during the Covid-19 pandemic. Officials considered the matter carefully and listened to the views of stakeholders before reaching their decision. It was difficult to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks eligible front-line healthcare workers faced. I take on board the point made by both Senators in relation to the contract cleaners and caterers but I refer again to the line that states there are also certain non-HSE and non-section 38 healthcare workers who are encompassed by the Government decision. Support staff such as cleaning and catering staff among other groups are included once they meet the eligibility criteria set out.
Support staff such as cleaning and catering staff, among other groups, are included once they meet the eligibility criteria set out.
I take it from the Minister of State's explanation that contract cleaners and caterers are included in this. Is that correct?
The Minister of State will respond at the end.
The Minister of State's written response notes that packs have now been issued to 750 relevant organisations, including agency organisations. The agencies I am concerned with, particularly around the Saolta university hospital healthcare group, which includes Portiuncula and other hospitals, are Aramark catering and Noonan cleaning services. That would include the security porters.
I thank the Minister of State for her response. I remember a number of weeks after the announcement being contacted by some of those people in Ballinasloe, family members of the contract cleaners. I sought clarification. The clear answer I got at that time was that staff of any company the HSE contracted to do work on the hospitals were eligible. I think they will come under that. I hope, given what the Minister of State said, things will start to move and these people will get the payments.
The pandemic recognition payment is in the final stages of its roll-out and should begin reaching organisations very soon so that eligible staff can receive the payment as soon as possible. The nub of the issue is that there is a wide variety of front-line workers in the HSE and section 38 organisations eligible for the payment. Support staff such as cleaning and catering staff, among other groups, are included once they meet the eligibility criteria set out. These also include private sector nursing homes and hospices, section 39 long-term residential facilities for people with disability, agency roles in the HSE, healthcare support assistants, members of the Defence Forces and paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade. I hope that clarifies it. My understanding is they need only meet the eligibility criteria that is there for all, meaning those who work for a certain amount of time on the front line. Hopefully that payment will issue very soon.
Infectious Diseases
I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for picking this Commencement matter. I welcome the Minister of State. It is great to see her back. Hopefully she will be back to flying form in the coming weeks and months.
I raise the issue of meningitis, meningitis awareness campaigns and supports for meningitis. Invasive meningococcal disease is the most common form of bacterial meningitis in Ireland, causing up to 90% of cases. The disease may present as meningitis, septicaemia or both. Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges, which is the covering layer of the brain and spinal cord. Septicaemia is a form of blood poisoning cased by the same organism that causes meningitis. Early symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, stomach cramps and cold hands and feet. The HSE advises not to wait for a rash if someone is ill and getting worse, but to get medical help immediately. One in ten people may carry the bacteria. Carriage of the bacteria increases with age. It is typically followed by development of immunity. Peak carriage may occur in the 15-and-19-years age group, of whom 25% are carriers, but it is also highly prevalent in small babies and young children.
The impact meningitis can have on a family is tremendous. It impacts small children, babies and young adults typically at the start of their college years or whatever. It can be a sudden loss for those involved. It is important that there be national awareness campaigns at local level, at schools and universities and across society so people are aware of the disease, who is most impacted and the symptoms.
Act for Meningitis is a national charity based in Galway. It aims to raise awareness and educate society about the signs and symptoms of meningitis, while offering free support services for those affected by the disease. These support services are tailored to the needs of the individual or the family to find the most appropriate and beneficial service for them. Act for Meningitis is a national charity, although it is based in Galway. It has been turned down for the scheme to support national organisations on nine occasions. It has applied to the HSE under different types of funding. It is so reliant on donations and events that impacted families might engage in. The support services it provides are hugely important for bereaved and impacted families. It needs a reliable source of funding to ensure its services continue. The organisation is 11 years in existence since last July. It has no sustainable income. Pre Covid, 68% of its income came from private fundraising and it is now down to 22%. It is looking for sustainable funding to ensure its valuable work in raising awareness nationally about this disease can continue, to keep the show on the road and provide supports for impacted families.
I thank Senator Kyne for giving me the opportunity to speak to the issues around meningitis awareness and the supports provided. I am acutely conscious of some families that were recently bereaved, including the family of a beautiful young girl in my constituency. As I speak here today, I am very conscious of the families left behind.
The HSE has recently investigated a number of cases of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia. Meningitis is a serious illness involving inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by a variety of different germs, mainly bacterial infections and viruses. Bacterial meningitis, identified in recent cases, is less common but usually more serious than viral meningitis and requires urgent treatment with antibiotics. Bacterial meningitis may be also be accompanied by septicaemia or blood poisoning. These bacteria live naturally in the nose and throat of normal healthy persons without causing illness. The illness occurs most frequently in young children and adolescents, usually as isolated cases. Bacterial meningitis or septicaemia requires urgent antibiotic treatment.
In Ireland, most meningococcal infections occur in winter and early spring. Meningococcal disease may occur at any age but sporadic infection is most common in infancy and early childhood, with a second smaller peak of incidence in adolescents and young adults. The HSE advises that if people have any concerns, they should contact their GP in the first instance but ensure that medical expertise is sought quickly.
Vaccination plays a central role in disease prevention. The meningococcal B vaccine and the meningococcal C vaccine are offered to children in Ireland as part of the primary childhood immunisation programme. Protection against meningococcal C disease reduces over time so a booster dose is recommended for children in first year of secondary school, and age equivalent special school and home-schooled students, to provide additional protection against meningococcal C disease. It is vital that parents check that their children are up to date regarding the recommended vaccinations.
The HSE raises awareness around the signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease and the importance of children receiving the available recommended meningococcal vaccines to protect them from the most common meningococcal disease in Ireland. World Meningitis Day takes place annually to help raise awareness around the disease. This year's event took place on 5 October.
I take on board the Senator's point about Act for Meningitis. We are all in agreement. I know it is a decision everyone makes for themselves but vaccination is so important. As children grow older, we have to be aware of the symptoms that can present. I have heard of Act for Meningitis. I will look into the reasons the organisation has been unsuccessful on so many occasions with regard to funding.
It is very hard to raise funds. Many organisations were very good at raising funds prior to Covid-19 but it has really challenged them recently. Sections 38 and 39 of the Health Act 2004 provide for the HSE to provide funding for agencies to deliver services on its behalf. There is, therefore, a funding stream in place. That includes funding across a range of care areas including a number of organisations that provide bereavement support services to families. All these details are available on the HSE website. I take on board the Senator's point, however. These recent cases frightened many people; they are worried. People want a dedicated source of information at which they can look. I will certainly raise the issue with regard to Act for Meningitis.
I thank the Minister of State for that response. We all unfortunately know of people who have suffered bereavements. As I said, it is heartbreaking for families because it happens so suddenly, particularly in young adults. The awareness is not just in that person but in his or her cohort. Their friends might say there is something wrong and it is serious and this person needs help. It can happen, and hours can be critical in diseases like this. I would certainly welcome if the Minister of State could take the issue of Act for Meningitis up with the relevant section in her Department. As I said, it has an office in the Ballybane area in Galway city. I would appreciate if she could get back to me regarding a sustainable source of funding if that is possible. The organisation does valuable work across the country.
Further work on raising awareness is carried out by the National Immunisation Office and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre through the sharing of content on social media platforms and web pages. As we know, meningitis is also covered during the promotion of European Immunization Week in April every year. If the Senator does not mind, he might drop me a quick email with regard to this and I will certainly have it looked at through the Department. Volunteer organisations do a huge amount of work. It is very important that we try to support them as best we can. I will certainly have it looked at for the Senator.
I thank the Minister of State very much. I also thank Senator Kyne for bringing up this very appropriate matter during today's Commencement debate. We are all aware of what meningitis has done to families so suddenly in different parts of the country.
We always like to see visitors in the Gallery, some of whom I know, such as Cormac, and some of whom I do not. They are all very welcome; céad míle fáilte. I hope they enjoy their afternoon. We are now taking Commencement matters, which is an opportunity for any Senator to raise an issue, which could be local or national in nature. The Minister of State with responsibility for trade promotion, digital and company regulation, Deputy Calleary, is now entering the Chamber. He will take an issue from Senator Robbie Gallagher from County Monaghan.
Foreign Direct Investment
I, too, welcome our guests. I am glad to have the Minister of State with us as well. I would like to take this opportunity, which is the first I have had, to congratulate him on his new appointment. As they say, no better man for this job than his good self.
I would like to talk to the Minister of State about a new IDA advance technology building that has been completed in County Monaghan. The new 1,400 sq. m building was built at the IDA Business and Technology Park just outside Monaghan town at Knockaconny. It has ancillary office space over two floors. Advanced technology buildings, which are referred to as ATBs, are designed to facilitate a change of function to advance office buildings, if required. They also have 100% expansion capability, which is a very good feature.
The IDA said these ATBs offer ready for occupation, high-specification flexible and sustainable property solutions suitable for high-value manufacturing and global business services to support the winning of investment from foreign direct investment clients. The Monaghan development is part of IDA Ireland's wider regional property programme, the objective of which is to develop property solutions in regional locations across the country in places such as Monaghan. The initiative is vital in supporting the Border region in particular because in the past, the region has been left behind.
This new facility must now help to attract more investment to a county and region that has previously had to fend for itself. I am aware that advertisements to potential investors began when the building was completed towards the end of last year and that is an ongoing process. I am also informed that the IDA is actively promoting this facility across 24 offices across the globe. I hope that the IDA can find an investor with long-term potential and one that has the potential to grow even further.
County Monaghan and the Border regions have for far too long exported their children to the capital city and further afield. It is interesting to note recent statistics, which state that Monaghan has in more recent years had one of the highest levels of young people going to third-level institutions of any county in the State. However, unfortunately, many of our young people who graduate have no work in their native county to return to. That is something that we need to address. That is why a county like Monaghan is long overdue some foreign direct investment. I believe that this facility has the potential to kickstart that development. I appreciate that the Minister of State may be curtailed in what he can say to us this afternoon, but I am hoping that he might be able to outline what progress has been made to date by the IDA in trying to find a tenant. How many site visits have there been? Hopefully, as a result of those site visits, we might have some positive news for the county shortly.
Go raibh maith agat. Anois, an Aire, fáilte go dtí an Teach inniu.
I, too, welcome the guests in the Gallery and I thank Senator Gallagher for his contribution, for his ongoing interest in this issue and for his good wishes.
Senators will recall that 2021 was a record-breaking year for foreign direct investment employment. Total employment in IDA client companies now stands at 275,384, which was up over 29,000 on the 2020 figure. Growth in the regions was particularly buoyant, with 53%, or 133 projects of the 249 investments won by IDA, going to regional locations. Employment growth was recorded in every region of the country in 2021 and our agencies are currently finalising the 2022 employment survey with a view to publishing it before the end of this year.
Monaghan is marketed by the IDA as part of the wider Border region made up of the counties of Donegal, Cavan, Sligo, Leitrim, as well as Monaghan. There are currently eight IDA-supported companies in Monaghan employing 430 people. The FDI performance in the Border region has been strong over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing by 18% as traditional strengths in sectors such as engineering, industrial technologies and medical technologies were complemented by new investments from the technology, international financial services and life science sectors.
Key to that success is strategic collaboration with national and local stakeholders on the enhancement of the regional value proposition. The existing FDI-based companies in Monaghan enjoy strong collaborative links with several third-level colleges including Dundalk Institute of Technology, the Technological University of the Shannon and the Atlantic Technology University. IDA Ireland is committed to ensuring a good supply of suitable property solutions to be available for FDI in regional locations and as such the agency has a network of business and technology parks across every region to support both IDA and Enterprise Ireland client companies.
As the Senator said, IDA’s business and technology park is located on the outskirts of Monaghan town, which is an 80-minute drive from Belfast City Airport and from Dublin Airport. The park comprises 17 ha and is fully landscaped. The development of the advance building solution in Monaghan was part of IDA Ireland’s wider regional property programme. The programme is funded by the Government with an extra €20 million this year. Completed in 2021, this building is located in the IDA park and offers additional IDA lands adjoining the site offering opportunities for expansion subject to planning. The building includes a technology or manufacturing space and two-storey accommodation.
I am advised that the IDA has regular engagement with client companies and stakeholders in the county and this will continue both towards the end of 2022 and throughout 2023.
IDA Ireland will continue to market Monaghan and the wider Border region through its overseas offices, as referred to by the Senator, to target mobile FDI and will arrange corresponding site visits as required. I will continue to keep pressure on IDA Ireland to ensure we fill the unit as soon as possible.
I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I have no doubt he and his office will leave no stone unturned to ensure we find a suitable client for this state-of-the-art facility. Monaghan has shown, through indigenous industries, whether in engineering with Combilift or in food with Monaghan Mushrooms, that we can be world leaders in whatever field we choose. To date, unfortunately, foreign direct investment has been a stranger to our shores, so we hope that with this facility, and with the Minister of State at the helm, we will push all we can to ensure we get a suitable tenant here in order that our young people and graduates, who heretofore have been forced to travel, will have the option to come home to work in their chosen occupation, in line with their qualifications, in a facility located in their own county.
I assure the Senator I will certainly look forward to working him and other Oireachtas colleagues towards promoting this advanced building solution. Its construction is a major win for Monaghan. Having a site that is ready for go for any potential investor will put it well ahead of other locations. As the Senator noted, there is a proud tradition of enterprise in Monaghan, and the collaboration I mentioned with the third and fourth level institutions and the easy access to transport hubs, for both air and sea travel, make it a high-value proposition for inward investment. I will continue to work with the Senator on promoting that and I have asked IDA Ireland to keep me updated on its efforts to fill the building.
Tax Reliefs
I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Fleming.
Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. As he will be aware, we are seeing a global explosion in content production, in film, television, animation and the new digital sector, and Ireland has been very much to the fore in ensuring we get a slice of that international pie. We have an excellent film, television and animation sector in Ireland, and one reason that has been the case relates to the section 481 tax relief, which helps in financing these productions.
It was welcome in the budget that section 481 was extended to 2028 but there was no clarity in the budget concerning the regional uplift, which allows for projects to be produced outside the Dublin-Wicklow region. This additional relief is available to allow film and television crews to travel, but the broader idea behind it was to ensure we could build up in the regions a sustainable film and television production sector and have people within the regions who would be able to support the development of the sector. The Minister of State will be aware that all those who are involved within the industry, such as Screen Producers Ireland, Screen Guilds of Ireland, Animation Ireland and Ardán, which represents the studios, as well as IBEC, the audiovisual sector and SIPTU, as the main trade union, were all supportive of this because we could see the development starting to happen. Indeed, he will be aware of film and television production that was starting to happen in his county, Laois.
This relief is crucial, not least as we are looking at seeing a significant number of new film and television studio spaces developing throughout the country, including in Westmeath and my county, Wexford. To ensure we have something that is sustainable until 2028 and in order that we can guarantee to the regions that there will be support, we should have, as was originally introduced in 2019, a 5% regional uplift until 2028.
This would mean that it would be more attractive to look at filming and creating new content outside the Dublin-Wicklow hub. It would make it attractive for domestic production and also particularly in terms of us being able to attract international productions to Ireland.
We also know the tourism and cultural dividends that come from investment in film and television production when people from outside this country see the scenery on offer here as a result of what they see on their screens, it makes it more attractive. There have been numerous reports to verify this. I hope, while it is welcome that section 481 has been extended, that the Government will commit further to regional film and television production and to animation production by ensuring the extension of the regional uplift. When it was originally introduced, Covid-19 was not anticipated, which interrupted the process. Now, we need a period to allow that to bed in and allow for regional film and television production and animation to grow in a way that will support jobs in all of our regions.
Section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, also known as the film tax relief, is intended to act as a stimulus to the creation of an indigenous film industry in the State creating quality employment opportunities and supporting expressions of culture. I thank the Senator for his opening remarks. He has shown a depth and knowledge of the industry that very few Members have and he has gone through the various groups involved in the sector that participate and are involved in it. They earn a good livelihood and income from it, with the benefit of the tax consolation relief I mentioned. The scheme provides relief in the form of a corporation tax credit related to the cost of production of certain films. The credit is granted at a rate of 32% and is available on qualifying expenditure of up to €70 million for any project or film.
The Finance Act 2018 introduced a short-term, tapered regional uplift for productions being made in areas designated under the state aid regional guidelines. The purpose of the regional uplift is to support the development of new, local pools of talent in areas outside the current main production hubs of Dublin, Cork and Wicklow to support the geographic spread of the audiovisual sector. The uplift originally provided for an increase of the credit for four years, with 5% available in years 1 and 2, 2019 and 2020. That 5% uplift is on top of the 32% available everywhere in the country. That was followed by 3% available in year 3, 2021, and 2% available in year 4, 2022.
However, in recognition of the detrimental impact the Covid-19 crisis had on the audiovisual sector, the Finance Act 2020 amended the original uplift scheme to provide for an additional 5% in 2021. Instead of being available for two years, it was available for three. I asked about the matter that surely during Covid-19, this may not have cost the Exchequer that much, but the film sector did reasonably well during the Covid-19 period as lots of their productions were in different areas throughout the country and the sector was more resilient during Covid-19 than many others. That may not have been anticipated at the time. In effect, this was to replace the incentive year lost. As I said, an extra year was given. The tapered withdrawal of the uplift then restarted this year, with a reduction to 3% in 2022. It will reduce 2% in 2023. No uplift will remain thereafter.
The uplift is an approved state aid. The premise upon which it was notified to the European Commission was that it would be temporary in nature and would be withdrawn on a tapered basis. If the uplift was deemed to be permanent, it might not have been approved in the first instance. If the uplift were to be changed or retained for a further period, we would then have to go back to the European Commission and start negotiations again.
I am aware of how the uplift was received upon its introduction. However, there are currently no plans to increase the regional uplift rate or to introduce alternative proposals for regional-specific changes in the context of section 481.
The main film tax credit will remain available to qualifying productions in all areas of the country following the winding down of the uplift in those regions. That costs about €70 million per annum. The Senator is aware that the Government is committed to the continued growth of the audiovisual sector. The Finance Bill 2022 provides for the extension of section 481 from the current end date of 31 December 2024 to 31 December 2028.
I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate that he is only reading the figures given to him by the Department of Finance. It is clear that the Department is not committed to the development of a regional film and television industry on the basis of this response. That is quite disappointing. It is also clear that the Department does not understand the importance of section 481 and the regional uplift. The fact that everyone in the sector saw new productions coming into the regions that would not have happened if it were not for the uplift. It was well-intentioned and was interrupted by Covid. The scheme was only getting going and then it disappeared. The Minister of State made the point that it was temporary, as agreed with the European Commission. Did any further negotiation with the European Commission take place? I do not believe so. Given the fact there was an interruption, if we were to consider temporarily extending the scheme to allow it to continue until 2028 in line with the current section 481 arrangements, that would allow us to develop a strong regional film and television sector. We must give it a chance.
I ask the Minister of State to ask the Minister for Finance to reconsider this matter. The scheme is important for the development of the sector in the regions. The Department does not fully understand how important the uplift is.
I acknowledge what Senator Malcolm Byrne said. The fact the Department is, in the context of the Finance Bill, extending the main relief available under the scheme for all counties for another four years is an indication that it fully supports the general scheme. It is a nationwide scheme.
On assisting particular regions, the Senator will be aware the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media recently announced funding of €2 million for the establishment of five new national talent academies in Wicklow, Limerick, Galway and Dublin for film, television, drama, animation and production crew. Various local authorities are active in this area through their arts offices in facilitating local projects. IDA Ireland is working in this area to increase facilities in different regions. In the context of the Finance Bill, which is currently going through the Oireachtas, there are no plans to extend the uplift.
I thank the Ministers of State, Deputies Fleming, Butler and Calleary, the Senators who tabled Commencement matters and the staff, including the ushers.
Cuireadh an Seanad ar fionraí ar 3.18 p.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 3.30 p.m.
Sitting suspended at 3.18 p.m. and resumed at 3.30 p.m.