Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 April 2024
42. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way her Department is supporting the Irish film industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16997/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government support for the audiovisual industry in Ireland is a two-pronged approach, through direct grants to the Irish screen industry and screen industry professionals and through tax relief known as Section 481.
The Minister for Finance is responsible for the legislation for Section 481 film tax relief while applications for the tax relief are made to my Department. On receipt of a successful application, a Section 481 Certificate is issued that allows the film project to claim a tax relief of 32% of eligible expenditure from the Revenue Commissioners subject to a cap. That cap was recently increased from €70m up to €125m.
Screen Ireland receives its funding from my Department and it allocation has increased steadily under this Government. The annual allocation has increased by 87% since I took office to €39.485m in 2024. As the national agency for the Irish film, television drama, animation and documentary industry, Screen Ireland is the creative partner to the sector, investing in talent, creativity and enterprise.
Screen Ireland achieves this through investing in the audiovisual sector in development, production and distribution funding for writers, directors and production companies across the film, television and animation sectors. Support is also provided through a wide range of skills development programmes and funding schemes to enable and encourage a highly able and diverse crew base.
Screen Ireland also provides core operational funding for national screen guilds and industry organisations. This funding helps support stakeholders to build networks, develop capacity and deliver a wide range of services for their members and the wider screen industry. Importantly the fund enables strategic engagement across the sector and ensure a diversity of voices and talent are represented across the screen industry. Screen Ireland’s National Talent Academy network includes five academies for film, television, animation and crew across the country, driving the development of skills for the industry around the country. The National Talent Academy Crew Hubs in particular are based in the West, East and South of the country – ensuring a widespread balance of skills and opportunity development for crew at all levels.
Coimisiún na Meán also provides significant support to the sector. Last week, I welcomed the announcement by Coimisiún na Meán of the award of €8.6 million to broadcasters and independent producers under rounds 51 and 52 of the Broadcasting Fund Sound and Vision Scheme. Round 51 of Sound and Vision focused on programming about gender equality, diversity and inclusion of new Irish communities and voices. Round 52 was a dedicated social benefit round for Community Broadcasters focused on providing programming and training and development opportunities.
