Irish Film Board awarded over €2 million

Irish Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue has granted a supplementary funding award of over €2 million to the Irish Film Board, with the aim of continuing to increase film production levels in the last quarter of 2006 and for the first half of 2007.
This extra funding from the Irish government will be invested in film and television projects which are expected to generate in excess of €30 million worth of film production activity in the Irish economy in the next twelve months.
The Minister commented: “I am pleased to allocate a further €2.3 million, which will bring the total allocation of funding to the Film Board to €19.4 million in 2006, an overall increase of 21% on the 2005 allocation. The government has also introduced significant improvements to the film tax incentive Section 481 this year. As a result of these improvements, we anticipate that film and television in Ireland will generate over €80 million in 2006 alone."
James Morris, Chairman, Board Scannán na hÉireann was appreciative: "The Irish film industry has received unwavering support from Minister O'Donoghue and the Irish Government, resulting in a substantial increase in production levels, high employment and a significant return on government investment in this sector.”
Last year, Minister O’Donoghue, in response to the low production levels being experienced by the film industry awarded €1.5 million in supplementary funding to the Irish Film Board with the direct aim of increasing production levels in Ireland.
The additional funding ensured that Irish film production levels increased substantially during 2006, generating major opportunities for the Irish film industry.
(DS)