Written by new-contact on Jun 4, 2012. Posted in Incentive News

Irish Government begins consultation on location filming incentive

A consultation has begun on the future of Ireland’s national location filming incentive. Known as Section 481, the programme is scheduled to expire in 2015 so its impact over the past six years will be assessed over the coming months to inform any changes.

Screen Producers Ireland is concerned that the report will consider arguments in favour of the programme being cancelled altogether, as well as debating how it could be improved. The organisation has asked its members to submit their thoughts over the next few weeks, Irish Film & Television News reports.

Barbara Galavan is Chief Executive Officer of Screen Producers Ireland and spoke to the outlet: “While the review of Section 481 is necessary, it is also somewhat worrying from the industry’s perspective for fear that the Department of Finance would do something drastic like strike a pen through the relief.

It is also somewhat worrying from the industry’s perspective for fear that the Department of Finance would do something drastic like strike a pen through the relief.

Barbara Galavan, Screen Producers Ireland

“I don’t believe that is their intention but if they were to do that, it would have a very significant negative effect on the industry here.”

Section 481 has been instrumental in bringing high-profile film and TV projects to Ireland. Film shoots like Steven Soderbergh's Haywire and Glenn Close's Oscar-nominated Albert Hobbs have filmed in Ireland, while high-profile TV projects have included Titanic: Blood & Steel and the BBC's Ripper Street.

Changes may be needed though as the country will soon face stiffer competition from a TV filming incentive in the UK, while global production hub South Africa has also upgraded its incentive offerings.