Written Answers. - Film Production.
Liam Lawlor
Ceist:
117
Mr. Lawlor
asked the
Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht
if he anticipates that any further major film projects will be forced to move out of Ireland because of our shortage of trained film crews as was the case with Richard III; the proposed projects, if any, which have been withdrawn for this reason; when the national training committee for film and television production will be operational; if there is the possibility of pooling resources with another developing film production country in the interim to ensure that further projects are not lost to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12615/95]
It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the particulars of any individual film project certified by my Department. However, I can state that, to my certain knowledge, the Deputy's inference regarding the project referred to by him is incorrect.
With unprecedented levels of film production here at present, we sometimes do not see as many Irish personnel in the production crews as we would ideally wish. However, the certification process is being used to ensure that all productions will provide ample opportunity for the training and upskilling of Irish personnel in all departments of production. Some 260 trainee positions have been established under the conditions of certificates issued by me to date.
On 28 June, 1995 on receiving the STATCOM report on the Independent Film and Television Production Sector in Ireland "Training Needs to 2000", I announced the establishment of a National Training Committee for Film and Television Production, comprising a wide range of interests and under an independent Chair. The final composition of this committee, which will report to the board of FÁS, will be announced soon. I also announced the allocation of substantial resources to provide the committee with a practical means to implement the report's recommendations in the most cost-effective manner consistent with the overriding objective of providing quality vocational training.
Under Ireland's Operational Programme for Industrial Development 1994-1999, I have been allocated £2.58 million less for film industry human resource development. I propose to assign these funds to the National Training Committee for the period up to 1999, and they will be topped up by FÁS mainstream funding of a further £250,000 annually, subject to demand.
Many film and television productions being undertaken here are co-productions with producers from other countries. This element of the industry serves to bring additional finance, expertise and marketing opportunities, as well as affording opportunities for Irish personnel for skills training and experience in working with personnel from abroad. I would mention in particular the assistance offered by Eurimages, which is the Council of Europe production fund of European film co-productions and which requires three European co-producers for each project. To date, some 10 co-productions with an Irish involvement have been supported by Eurimages. Accordingly it would not be appropriate to limit co-production to just one other country in view of the wide range of co-production opportunities now available to Irish producers.
A gratifying feature of the high level of production at present is the increasingly strong representation of indigenous productions. At least five films with first-time Irish directors will go into production in 1995. These films generally offer openings to a wide range of Irish crews who might not have sufficient experience to gain positions in the larger "blockbuster" -type projects, thereby contributing to the pool of indigenous skills competences available to those wishing to produce films in Ireland.
