Budget 2024: Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland Welcomes Increase of Section 481 Eligible Expenditure Cap
Posted: 10th October 2023
Ireland in a Position to Attract Larger Scale Production and VFX Global Activity as Cap on Irish Tax Incentive for Creative Screen Industry Increased
Screen Ireland to Continue Focus on Nationwide Industry Growth
Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland welcomes the Irish Government’s continued support for the Irish film industry in Budget 2024. Minister for Finance Michael McGrath (TD) today announced an increase of the eligible expenditure cap of the Irish tax incentive, Section 481, to €125 million, subject to state aid approval. The agency also announced plans to support new initiatives to facilitate production across the breadth of the country.
Commenting on the announcement, Susan Bergin, Chair of the Board of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, said:
“In a landscape where global film and TV production budgets have reached an all-time high, the increase in the eligible expenditure cap will allow Ireland to attract a wider range of high-quality, larger scale production. It will also create opportunities in the growing area of VFX and post-production, whilst maintaining our well-regarded global reputation. This in turn will allow Ireland to build a depth of production crew, creating jobs and skills development opportunities throughout the creative screen industry, as well as driving increased cultural and economic opportunities for screen tourism.
Funding for Screen Ireland and the Section 481 tax incentive have become the bedrock of the Irish screen sector’s success, supporting culturally Irish stories on screen, creating local and international job opportunities, increasing spend in the Irish economy and allowing for structured skills development for Irish crew. We are delighted to see the Government continue their support for the Irish screen sector with this announcement and would like to thank Minister Michael McGrath TD and Minister Catherine Martin TD for their continued commitment. Much of the success the industry has achieved to date is the culmination of the long-term investment in cultural and creative talent from sustained Government funding.”
A Focus on National Support
Alongside Section 481, Screen Ireland is committed to supporting new initiatives to facilitate additional production nationwide. Screen Ireland is aiming to launch a new Creative Clusters Programme for 2024 targeting emerging screen talent and communities across the country, with a pilot scheme proposed for County Cork. Following consultation with stakeholders as part of the Counterculture Audiovisual Policy report, a further engagement process will define the broader remits of this scheme, with company development and leadership supports available to build creative screen ecosystems.
Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, said:
“Sustained Government support for the Irish creative screen industry has helped enable the sector to thrive in recent years and achieve outstanding levels of global success.
2023 has been a landmark year for the Irish film industry, with an unprecedented number of Irish Academy Award nominations, including the historic Best International Feature Film nomination for Irish-language film An Cailín Ciúin. The global impact of Irish culture and creative voices in feature film, and the recent thriving development of Irish TV Drama, has also demonstrated the worldwide reach and influence of Irish stories on screen.
Our ambition for the future growth of the industry is to ensure local and international film, television, animation, documentary and VFX is produced in counties throughout Ireland, bringing the cultural and economic benefits of the industry to the entire country. The national development of the industry, beyond the existing production hubs, is a key priority for Screen Ireland to ensure the sustainability of the industry into the future”.
47% of the local Irish feature film and TV drama in Screen Ireland’s 2023 slate were produced or filmed on location in regional areas, including Donegal (Obituary Season 1), Limerick (Double Blind), Clare (Smother Season 3), Galway and Mayo (That They May Face the Rising Sun), demonstrating the wide range of locations available outside of the Dublin/Wicklow areas.
After incredible levels of growth in the past few years, Screen Ireland’s emphasis is to ensure future growth is as responsible and sustainable as possible. In building an industry that is fully inclusive and representative of all modern Ireland, Screen Ireland will prioritise regional development, skills development programmes, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and further supports to encourage new entrants to find pathways in and through the screen industry.