Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 February 2019
226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the degree to which home production can be encouraged in the making of films for cinema or television; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8966/19]
View answerScreen Ireland is the national development agency for Irish film making and the Irish film, television and animation industry. Its statutory remit is to assist and encourage the making of film in the State and the development of a film industry in Ireland. Screen Ireland supports writers, directors and production companies across these sectors by providing investment loans for the development, production and distribution of film, television and animation projects. Screen Ireland has a vision for a vibrant, creative and sustainable Irish film, television and animation industry, with diverse voices, talent and opportunities which speaks to and connects Irish film culture with audiences at home and abroad.
In Budget 2019, I was able to allocate an additional €2 million to Screen Ireland to build on its vital work in supporting Irish film, television drama, documentary and animation. This increases its annual budget by 11% overall to €20 million.
In April of last year, I was joined by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance in launching Investing in Our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018 – 2027. This is a capital investment plan and it provides funding of €200m for the audio visual industry and media production through Screen Ireland over the next 10 years.
In June 2018 I launched the Government's Audio-visual Action Plan which is an industry-wide, long-term plan, under the Creative Ireland Programme, to support the Government’s ambition to enable Ireland to become a global hub for the production of Film, TV drama and animation.
A steering group has been set up which will prioritise measures, oversee implementation and monitor risks, and will report regularly to me as Minister.
Section 481 film relief is a valuable asset to the film industry in Ireland. It is one of the primary mechanisms by which the Government supports the film industry and attracts new film projects to Ireland. It provides support in the form of a corporation tax credit related to the cost of film production. I am glad to note that Budget 2019 also included an announcement that Section 481 has been extended to 2024. An additional time-limited tax incentive of 5% (regional uplift) is also being introduced for productions based in certain regions.
