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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 Jul 2001

Vol. 540 No. 3

Written Answers. - Film Industry Development.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

255 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the number of new film projects which she has encouraged or proposes to encourage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20746/01]

My Department is responsible for the certification of film projects under section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, formerly section 35 of the Finance Act 1987, as amended.

Since taking office, I have on a number of occasions visited Los Angeles to meet the senior executives in the American film industry to promote Ireland as a location for film production. These visits have raised the profile of Ireland as such a location with the major film companies. US investment in the Irish film industry since 1997 has involved a spend in Ireland of more than £110 million. Most recently, I have visited the Cannes film festival with the same objective.

Since July 1997, 127 film projects have been certified under the section 481 scheme to date, and seven applications are currently under consideration.

Following on the report of the film industry strategic review group, significant initiatives have been put in place to revitalise and strategically re-orientate this important area of the economy. These include the consolidation and unprecedented extension of the section 481 tax relief for investors in the industry, which will now run until April 2005.

The Irish Film Board (Amendment) Act, 2000, which had the effect of raising the overall limit of expenditure which may be incurred by the board in production and development funds, from £30 million to £80 million, was signed into law in December last.

The role of the Irish Film Board will be pivotal in future developments in the sector. I was pleased to have obtained significant increases in the financial and staffing resources of the board in recent months. Since I took office, the Exchequer allocation for the Irish Film Board has increased from £4.2 million in 1997 to £8.75 million. This represents a 100% increase in funding for the board. Staffing resources have been increased from five in 1997 to the current level of 16. With these improved inputs, the restructured board will be well placed to strategically drive the sector over the next five years.
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