Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024
211. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an overview of her Department’s understanding of production activity in the film and audiovisual sector at present; the efforts, if any, she is undertaking to increase the volume of production activity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18682/24]
View answerThe national agency for the Irish film, television drama, animation and documentary industry is Screen Ireland, an Agency under the aegis of my Department. Screen Ireland invests in production activity in several ways, including local production activity investment, inward production support for international producers and co-productions, and the promotion of Ireland as a film location internationally.
Irish creatives and Irish production companies have achieved outstanding international success in recent years. Irish films, high-end TV drama, animation and documentaries have premiered at all major international festivals, sold in every territory around the world and received critical acclaim and awards recognition at the highest levels. These successes are about individual talent and the collective work of a highly skilled creative industry. It is part of a long-term strategic vision led by sustained investment in Irish filmmakers and artists over many decades.
Screen Ireland adopts a dual approach to industry development, balancing local Irish filmmaking and inward international production. Attracting large-scale, international projects to Ireland generates significant spend in the Irish economy, creates employment opportunities and world-class skills development alongside ensuring strong levels of investment in Irish stories on screen and projects creatively led by Irish artists.
In 2023, Screen Ireland launched a new Nationwide Additional Production loan to encourage projects (live-action and animated feature film and television and short films) to film in areas of Ireland nationwide. Since last October, 7 film and television project applications were contracted under this fund including projects filming in Kerry, Cork, Tipperary and Donegal.
Screen Ireland recently announced increases to its budget and award thresholds for the agency's Fiction: Irish Production fund to ensure the continued production of Irish film and television production. These changes are part of Screen Ireland’s remit and responsibility to ensure the continued creative success of Irish film and television production.
Nationwide skills development plays a crucial role across industry growth and continued production activity across the country. Screen Ireland provides a wide range of career supports at all levels – supporting first-time writers, directors and producers, as well as crew. The skills team in Screen Ireland address ongoing skills needs across the country through its online courses, funding schemes, courses and other activities, and through its work in relation to the skills requirements of the Section 481 tax credit.
In 2023, Screen Ireland supported over 5,000 skills participants across a range of activities, both directly and through its National Talent Academy Network, and evaluated over 50 skills development plans from Section 481-supported film and television productions.
The National Talent Academy network, which was established in 2022, comprises five Talent Academies based around the country, with a key focus on diversity and inclusion. A new Talent Academy for VFX was announced in late 2023 and will launch in 2024.
Screen Ireland's Inward Production team supports international production in Ireland, promoting Ireland as a filming location for international studios and production companies. The team promotes and sells Ireland as an attractive place to base a film or high-end television production, based on Ireland’s range of locations, crew expertise and experience, high-end facilities and the attractive tax credit of 32% offered by the Irish government, Section 481. They facilitate and advise these productions on visa applications, location scouting, studio space and more.
Screen Ireland continues to work to increase Ireland’s international profile, bringing international production activity to Ireland, and deepening US-Ireland industry relationships through the agency's LA office, established in 2021, and Screen Ireland’s Head of US Production & Partnerships.
Applications for the film tax relief and the digital gaming tax under Section 481 and 481A respectively of the Taxes Consolidation Act are made to my Department and certificates are issued to the successful projects that allow the successful projects to claim 32% tax relief on expenditure in Ireland subject to a cap. As part of Budget 2024, the Minister for Finance increased that cap from €70m up to €125m per project. The increase should see increased production activity, particularly from incoming international productions over the coming years.
