Vol. 497 No. 3
16 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the plans, if any, she has for the development of the audio visual industry, with particular emphasis on indigenous television drama productions and the potential of international documentary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24941/98]
I will shortly introduce a supplementary estimate of £700,000 to increase the 1998 capital grant-in-aid to the Irish Film Board to enable it to provide additional development and production loans to meet the expanding requirements of the indigenous industry, including television production and documentary. I am also pleased to announce that I have secured an increase in capital funding for the Irish Film Board for next year bringing its capital allocation to £4.81 million, which represents an increase of 18 per cent on the original provision for this year.
There is general agreement in the film industry that project development is a key area in ensuring the future growth of the indigenous industry, and accordingly, in addition to providing additional capital resources, I have secured sanction for the appointment of a development officer at senior level in the Irish Film Board. This appointment will be made shortly.
In June of this year I established an Irish Film Industry strategic review group, known as the "Think Tank" to formulate recommendations for a strategic plan for the future of the Irish Film industry into the next decade. I understand the issues raised by the Deputy are being addressed in this forum and I expect the report of the review group in January.
I welcome the announcement of extra finance. The audio visual federation of IBEC has made a submission to the Minister's "Think Tank". Does she appreciate the importance of the audio visual sector in the context of future growth, job creation and as the core of the development of the industry? Does she agree that Enterprise Ireland should recognise the audio visual sector as the core component for the growth of this industry? How does she propose to create strong Irish companies which can develop into this sector given that RTE and the indigenous sector are losing a large number of young people who have creativity, imagination and vision in this area? Due to current restrictions they are unable to break into this section of the audio visual industry which is the key growth sector for jobs.
Deputy Kenny has asked whether I recognise the importance of the audio visual industry in Ireland. I do and because of that the Government has shown its commitment to the film industry in a number of ways, not least in bolstering the Irish Film Board in every way possible in its work in encouraging indigenous industry here. The screen commission was set up to ensure the film industry would be promoted not only at home but abroad and to prove that Ireland is an excellent location for film making.
We all recognise the independent productions are extremely important. RTE has a statutory obligation to set aside a specific amount each year for the commissioning of television programmes from the independent sector. Within that sector there are many up and coming young people who are in a position to produce such programmes. That kind of production is encouraged and is recognised by the statutory obligation.
There has been some confusion over the 1993 legislation with regard to the interpretation of RTE's future commitment to the independent production sector in terms of the actual figures. I had no intention of playing referee with that legislation. I decided the best possible approach was to incorporate the whole principle of the famous 20 per cent, as it is now known, in my new broadcasting legislation which will be published shortly. In doing that I made known that my intention was to remove the uncertainty of the 1993 legislation by providing a specific amount, £16 million, to be made available by RTE for independent commissions in 1999. This represents a 60 per cent increase on the 1998 provision for independent commissions. I realise the importance of the independent production sector when it comes to promoting the indigenous industry.
Does the Minister agree with the federation's view that this sector can grow from £6 million to £60 million by 2004? How did she arrive at a figure of £16 million rather than a proportionate increase basis, as originally intended, because that appears to stifle the independent sector? Is the Minister happy that RTE, given its difficulties and the pressure and competition it is now facing, is strong and broad-minded enough to allow these young people with creative and imaginative minds to move into this sector dealing with television, documentary, drama, international cable sales and so on? Is she happy that RTE is not stifling the independent sector?
There is great potential for growth in this sector for a number of reasons, not least because there is talent and youth in the independent production sector. On the question of whether RTE is strong and broad-minded enough to deal with the proposals I am putting forward in my legislation concerning the independent sector and the £16 million which will come on stream for 1999, the answer is "yes", I believe they are strong enough.
