Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 June 2018
18. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture; Heritage and the Gaeltacht the engagement her Department has had with the Department of Finance in relation to the extension of section 481 film relief; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27111/18]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to her earlier Priority Question on this matter.
As a tax relief, Section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 is a matter in the first instance for my colleague the Minister for Finance. Section 481 is a film tax credit which provides a critical support for the Irish production sector, generating thousands of jobs, and providing a strong value proposition for the public purse. The existing tax credit extends to 31 December 2020.
The Department of Finance is now undertaking a full review of Section 481 in line with tax expenditure guidelines in advance of any formal decision to extend the extension of tax credit. My Department is working closely with Department of Finance on an ongoing basis on the issue including the provision of information for input into the review.
Pillar 4 of Creative Ireland Programme focuses on Ireland's potential to be a global leader in film production, TV drama, documentary, children's storytelling and animation. Central to this pillar is the production of an Audiovisual Action Plan, which I will be publishing very shortly and which will aim to put in place a strategic and coherent approach to making Ireland a leader in this sector. The Audiovisual Action Plan is being informed from a number of key inputs including:
- A Report by economic consultants Olsberg SPI with Nordicity entitled An economic analysis of the Irish audiovisual sector which includes with policy recommendations.
- The outcomes of a Media Production Workshop at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, hosted by my Department last year, which was attended by over 150 representatives of the film, broadcast and animation sectors.
- A report on a Strategy for the Development of Skills for the Audiovisual industry in Ireland, which was commissioned jointly by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and the Irish Film Board, prepared by consultants Crowe Horwath.
The plan will also be underpinned by the Government’s capital investment plan Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018-2027 which provides for funding of €200m to be invested in media production and audio visual industries through Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland - the new name for the Irish Film Board - over the next 10 years. This funding level will meet the aspiration of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland to invest €20m per annum in film production over the period of the plan and reflects the Government's strong commitment to the industry.
