Audiovisual Action Plan

Ireland's Audiovisual Action Plan, a component of the Creative Ireland Programme, sets out the government's ambition to establish the country as a global hub for film, television drama, animation and, increasingly, games. Backed by a €200 million investment over ten years under the Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018–2027 plan, the strategy builds on economic analysis by Olsberg SPI/Nordicity, which estimated that the audiovisual sector supported roughly 14,370 full-time equivalent jobs and generated €857 million in gross value added in 2016, or about €1.1 billion including radio, with export earnings of around €191 million.

The plan's central thesis is that full implementation of the consultants' recommendations could roughly double employment in the film, television and animation sub-sector to over 24,000 FTEs and generate nearly €1.4 billion in gross value added within five years. To pursue this, the government commits to expanded Exchequer funding for Screen Ireland, including costs of €10 million per annum for TV drama funding and smaller sums for co-production and development funds, alongside continued support through the Section 481 tax incentive, which is due to expire at the end of 2020 and is subject to a 2018 review. Recent steps already taken include a 9% funding increase in 2018, a €450,000 co-development fund with the Canada Media Fund, and a €2 million regional production fund for the western counties.

The plan also addresses skills and regulation. Proposals include creative business training, closer alignment of third-level courses with industry needs in VFX, animation and games, and an industry-supported training levy, alongside reforms to the TV licence fee collection model and to satellite and cable rebroadcasting rules. A separate set of responses to the Irish Games Sector Working Group covers marketing, IP protection, affordable premises, and Irish-language production, including two €300,000 Cine4 development awards. Oversight is to rest with an expanded Steering Group, with annual progress reports beginning in 2019.