Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2015
11. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Defence if his Department received financial compensation for the service that the LÉ Samuel Beckett and an air corps helicopter provided to assist the filming of a movie on Sceilig Mhichíl off the Kerry coast in 2014. [25109/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe background to the deployment of a Naval Service vessel to Skellig Michael last year arose from the establishment, by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, of a three day maritime exclusion zone around the site in accordance with the Marine Safety Act 2005.
I understand that this exclusion zone was placed at the request of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in order to mitigate against the potential risk to the island habitat from unauthorised coastal activity, landings and/or intrusions. In this context the Department of Defence was contacted by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht seeking support from the Naval Service and my Department agreed that a Naval Service vessel, acting in an Aid to the Civil Authority (ATCA) role, would be deployed.
The vessel in question, the LÉ Samuel Beckett, was on scheduled sailing orders during this period. When on sailing orders, Naval Service vessels are multi-tasked in that they are engaged in a range of activities, primarily involving fishery protection duties but also undertaking general maritime surveillance. Accordingly, as LÉ Samuel Beckett was on scheduled sailing orders, no additional costs were incurred by the Naval Service in respect of this tasking and accordingly no financial contribution was sought by my Department from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Whilst the Air Corps was not deployed as part of this operation, they did carry out one reconnaissance helicopter flight to Skellig Michael at the request of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
I understand that filming on Skellig Michael was a considerable boost to local businesses, with in the region of €2 million being spent locally. The film employed 50 Irish crew and utilised a wide range of local service providers, including hotels and restaurants in the Cahirciveen region of west Kerry. I understand that Tourism Ireland are already receiving trade enquires from Tour Operators about opportunities to build itineraries around Star War locations in Ireland. I believe that the potential tourism value from this for Ireland, particularly given the proximity of the Wild Atlantic Way, is significant. I understand that Tourism Ireland is planning a campaign to convert the interest in Skellig Michael from the film's fans into increased visitors to Ireland in 2016 and beyond.
