Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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352. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she plans to visit the west coast of the US later in 2024 to meet senior officials from major film production companies to increase the number of major films being made in Ireland. [21396/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Screen Ireland is the national development agency for Irish filmmaking 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 therefore a major focus for Screen Ireland.

Screen Ireland continues to promote the extension of the Section 481 Film Tax Relief to 2028, particularly the increase of the cap from up to €125m. The Minister for Finance, his senior officials and Screen Ireland met with industry stakeholders in Los Angeles earlier this year and received positive feedback on the increase in the Section 481 cap.

Last year, I led a trade mission to Los Angeles and San Diego to promote the Irish screen industry, together with Screen Ireland, Tourism Ireland, the I.D.A., and the Department of Foreign Affairs. This trade mission was part of the Government’s St Patrick’s Day programme with the aim to build on the success for the Irish screen industry and the recognition of Irish talent on the world’s stage. I also met with industry stakeholders on a previous trade mission to the United States in 2022.

The Irish screen sector is a growing one and Ireland’s offerings present significant opportunities to the major US and international studios, as well as domestic film and television companies, to locate their projects here.

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 and trade missions provide an excellent opportunity for such direct communication. Nonetheless, I have no plans at present to visit the west coast of the US over the coming months.