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COVID-19 and Filming in Ireland

COVID-19 and Filming in Ireland

Screen Ireland’s priority is to continue to support a safe return to production within public health guidelines following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 and Guidelines for Filming in Ireland

As the national development agency for the creative screen industry, Fís Eireann/Screen Ireland has been working to support the film, television, and animation sector throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Our team is working closely with the Department of Culture to help employers and employees navigate the challenges associated with getting back into production. 

The Government has introduced a five-stage framework for restrictive measures around living with COVID-19. Currently, the entire country is currently at Level 5 of the framework.

Under Government Regulations, the audio-visual sector can operate at Level 5. Information on essential services is available here

Physical attendance at workplaces is only permitted for those providing essential services on the list and where such services can only be provided in person and not done remotely.

Strict Return to Production Guidelines for the creative screen content industry have been published, to support productions with regard to the challenges specific to the creative screen industry.

For Employers/Producers

  1. Under their Revised Roadmap for Reopening Ireland, the Irish Government advised that the creative screen content production could return to work from June 29th. 
  2. Film and television production sets are a place of work and the Irish Government has published a Return to Work Safely Protocol, designed to support employers and workers to put measures in place that will prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The Protocol should be used by all workplaces to adapt their workplace procedures and practices to comply fully with the COVID-19 related public health protection measures identified as necessary by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

  3. The Health and Safety Authority has produced checklists and templates to help employers, and managers get their business up and running again, and to inform workers about what they need to do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.
  4. Screen Producers Ireland, working closely with industry stakeholders and with funding from Screen Ireland, have published Return to Production Guidelines for the creative screen content industry, to support productions as they return to work with regard to the challenges specific to the creative screen industry. The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has confirmed that these guidelines adhere to Government COVID-19 health and safety best practice guidelines.
  5. Whilst each production will be required to develop specific ways of working based on their individual risk assessments, this guidance document helps to translate the government protocols and public health guidance into a practical approach tailored to screen content production.
For Employees/Crew
  1. Before returning to work, employees must follow the health and safety guidelines as published by the HSÉ.

  2. Screen Skills Ireland, the skills development unit within Screen Ireland, is providing free online training courses based on the guidelines to support a safe return to production focusing on relevant COVID-19 Guidelines.

  3. The role of the Health and Safety Authority is to ensure compliance with the Return to Work Safely Protocol. If an employee feels the workplace is not in compliance with this protocol, which includes social distancing guidelines, they can raise their concerns with the HSA and they will address the concerns with their employer. You should raise your concern with your employer first to give them the opportunity to address the issue.
  4. When a worker is told to self-isolate by a doctor or the HSE or has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (Coronavirus) by a doctor, they can apply for an enhanced Illness Benefit payment. Further information can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/eca524-covid-19-information-for-employees/
Travelling to Ireland for Work

If you are travelling into Ireland, it is advised that you follow HSE public health guidelines with regard to what to do when arriving in Ireland, which can be viewed here:

Please note: New pre-departure testing and mandatory hotel quarantine requirements apply for journeys originating in designated countries. Please consult the relevant DFA Travel Advice for country-specific requirements.

Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19

On September 15th 2020, the Irish Government published Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 which sets out Ireland’s response to saving lives and managing the pandemic over the next seven months in a rapidly changing global environment. It is designed to allow individuals, families, businesses and services better understand, anticipate and prepare for the measures government might introduce to stop escalation of the transmission of the disease.

Read Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 here.

COVID-19 Related Production Supports Available

COVID-19 Production Fund

Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland’s COVID-19 Production Fund is intended to support industry recovery by partially offsetting additional production costs associated with implementing the new safety guidelines. Screen Ireland-funded productions will use these guidelines to develop their own individual protocols and production-specific risk assessments.

Performance and Production Support Package

A new €5 million pilot Performance and Production Support Package has been announced dedicated to the audio-visual sector, which will help de-risk costs and enable independent Irish production activity to return. This is a crucial and timely support aimed at creating confidence in enabling film and television projects to get back into production. More details on this fund will be made available shortly.

Find more information on COVID-19 Funding Supports here.