Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 October 2023
173. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she plans to visit the east coast of the United States early in 2024 to meet senior officials from major film production companies to discuss increasing the number of major films being made in Ireland. [45416/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have a planned Ministerial visit to New York next month to launch the National Archives Exhibition entitled On an Equal Footing with All, Ireland at the League of Nations 1923-1946 that will run from 20 November - 1 December 2023 at the United Nations Headquarters, New York. Among other networking possibilities and in consultation with Screen Ireland, I am examining opportunities to meet senior officials from major film production companies during that visit. More details of this visit will be announced by my Department in due course.
At the moment, I have no plans to visit the East Coast of the United States in early 2024. This however may change closer to the time.
I have visited the West Coast on two occasions, most recently in March 2023 where I led a trade mission with Screen Ireland during Oscars week and had meetings with a number of US film production studios and leading film executives there. The clear message from my engagement with the sector in Los Angeles was for the need to increase the cap on the S481 tax relief, and I was very pleased that an increase to €125M was announced by my colleague the Minister for Finance Michael McGrath on Budget Day providing a major boost for investment, employment and development of the film and television industry in Ireland.
The Audiovisual Action Plan sets out the Government's high-level, strategic priorities over to develop a vibrant media production and audiovisual sector bringing new economic opportunities across Ireland, through increased Government support. Building relationships with major US studios and producers is a critical component of that endeavour.
Screen Ireland is the national development agency for Irish film making and the Irish film, television and animation industry, investing in talent, creativity and enterprise. Screen Ireland has an Industry Building Programme Manager based in Los Angeles at present to promote Ireland and Irish companies and Irish talent to the LA based film and television industry. The major film production companies are based on the West Coast of the United States and this is where Screen Ireland’s focus is. While there are significant players with bases in New York, this is not on the same scale as the West Coast.
The Irish screen sector is a growing one and Ireland’s studio offerings present significant opportunities to film and television companies to locate their projects here.
