The total amount of funds available under the MEDIA II 1996-2000 Programme is 310 million ecus, or approximately £250 million, and is by far the largest amount targeted at the promotion of artistic and cultural expression in the European Union to date.
I believe that the significant level of film and television production which is now under way in the State is a strong indication that the industry is well placed to benefit from MEDIA II. Moreover, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I succeeded in securing important balances in the MEDIA II Programme to ensure that the circumstances pertaining in Ireland will be taken account of in its application. For example, the MEDIA II decision ensures that countries and regions with low levels of audio-visual production capacity and less widely-used languages will be taken account of in the programme. There is also a particular emphasis on the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises, which is a particular feature of the Irish industry.
I have to inform the Deputy, however, that while the EU Council of Culture Ministers has adopted the appropriate decisions for MEDIA II, the precise structures and criteria for, and practical application of, the programme have yet to be decided. In any event, since payments under MEDIA I were made directly from Brussels to film and television practitioners and it is likely that this arrangement will continue in some form for MEDIA II, it is not possible for me to indicate the amount of funds the Irish industry can secure from the MEDIA II Programme. It will depend on the draw down following the applications of the practitioners whom I expect to benefit proportionately more in terms of their preparedness.