Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2023
57. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if Carlow will benefit from the changes for the screen industry announced in Budget 2024. [45183/23]
View answerThe changes announced in Budget 2024 to assist the Irish screen industry, including increased funding to Screen Ireland and improvements in tax relief measures are for all of the State and are not confined to any one region.
Screen Ireland grants are open to individuals and organisations based across the State and the tax relief can, and is applied for by producer companies in every county.
In terms of specifics, the National Talent Academies network is an initiative of Screen Ireland. It includes the National Talent Academy for Film and Television, the National Talent Academy for Animation, and three regional Crew Academies: East (including Carlow) West and South. The network has been established to develop a highly skilled, diverse talent and crew base throughout the country, offering a wide range of activities for the Irish screen industry, including courses, programmes and career opportunities. The National Talent Academies are addressing innovation, skills development and sectoral growth and are the is the result of additional stimulus investment provided to Screen Ireland by me as Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. They form part of a wider strategy to support skills development across all regions of Ireland, with a particular focus on diversity and inclusion.
As part of this initiative, the Carlow Campus of the South East Technological University is being encouraged to work together with the Animation Academy going into 2024. The Animation Academy invited 2D and 3D animation final year students from the Carlow Campus to attend their upcoming Animation Fair in Dublin next month, where they will meet with animation studios from around the country and attend panel events and demonstrations, as well as get to showcase their work from the previous year on screen.
As of 31 August 2023, the National Talent Academies have provided 65+ courses, many of which were attended by participants based in Carlow.
