Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 December 2014
614. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of persons currently working in animation studios here; the steps being taken to create job opportunities for graduates here with animation qualifications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45896/14]
View answer616. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to capitalise the recent success of Ireland's animation industry; her views on whether Ireland's animation industry is getting adequate supports from the Government and the Irish Film Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45894/14]
View answer617. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the efforts she has made to support employment in the Irish film industry particularly in animation; if appropriate training and career development programmes are in place in the Munster region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45895/14]
View answerI propose to take Question Nos. 614, 616 and 617 together.
Primary responsibility for the support and promotion of film-making in Ireland, in respect of both the indigenous sector and inward productions, is a matter for the Irish Film Board (IFB). The IFB is the statutorily independent agency responsible for the promotion and development of the Irish film industry, including the animation sector.
Irish animation is a dynamic, growing and highly international sector that is making a significant impact on the global animation scene. Irish media and entertainment companies are becoming more export focused, providing award-winning content that is bought by companies such as Disney, Nickelodeon and the BBC and viewed by millions in over 130 territories worldwide. It is estimated that over 1,000 persons are employed as technical and creative staff in animation studios in Ireland.
The Government remains focused on the development of this sector, with the following supports in place: the recently enhanced 32% Section 481 film tax incentive, which is available for film and television, is in place until 2020; investment in Irish talent and Irish animated film and television content is made through development and production loans from the IFB; strategic company development support is available through Enterprise Ireland (EI); international promotional support is available from the IFB and EI for the industry at major festivals and international markets; investment in training is available from Screen Training Ireland (STI), the training arm of the IFB, as well as through Animation Skillsnet, which is funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Education and Skills; and support for TV animation projects with an Irish broadcaster is available from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.
The development and promotion of Irish animated content is a priority for the IFB. To this end, the IFB provides a significant level of development funding for home-grown Irish content, which aims to off-set some of the risk in the development of Irish animated content and IP. Since 2009, the IFB has invested almost €1.6 million in the development of Irish animated film and TV projects, which is directly aimed at supporting the growth of the animation sector.
The IFB is the largest funder for animation production activity in the country. Since 2006, the agency has provided almost €11 million in funding for Irish content to the sector. The level of IFB support for the animation sector did not reduce following the economic downturn, despite the overall reduction in IFB funding since 2008.
The IFB, through STI, provides training across all sectors of the industry and is particularly active in the area of digital production, which includes animation. Over the past number of years, STI has trained almost 1,500 professionals at all levels in the animation industry. These ranged from graduates entering the industry to animation CEOs, including animation directors, production managers, producers, storyboard artists and animators, together with a diversity of digital artists specialising in a range of disciplines in animation, including rigging, lighting, texturing and shading.
STI and the IFB have for the past two years supported The Bridge Programme, an initiative of Animation Skillnet and the Dublin Business Innovation Centre, which pairs teams of animation graduates with local studios on active projects, in order to expose them to professional working practices in a studio environment. Many of these graduates have subsequently found employment in animation studios.
