Unemployment and emigration face Irish film graduates

Screen Producers Ireland (SPI) are concerned about the potential implications the demise of the Section 481 tax incentive will have on Ireland's film industry, should the Government decide to go through with plans to terminate the incentive at the end of 2004.
An economic report published by SPI earlier this year, 'Realising the Potential of the Irish Film and Television Industry - A Unique National Asset', indicates that 80% of production work in Ireland will rapidly cease if Section 481 is removed. This will have a corresponding impact on employment opportunities, meaning that the 1,000 students enrolled in film related studies each year are likely to face an uncertain future of unemployment or emigration.
According to Andrew Lowe, Joint Head of the SPI Film Sub Committee, the industry is deeply concerned that film course students, as well as the industry's existing skilled workforce, will be faced with unemployment or emigration if Section 481 finishes at the end of 2004.
"Ireland's film industry has achieved much success over the last ten years through sustained partnership with the Government," stated Lowe. "Ireland is now one of six preferred locations in the world for film production, due to a large extent to the positive influence of the Irish tax incentive scheme. Without a tax incentive, Ireland will no longer be considered for international film productions and Ireland's indigenous industry will suffer, which in turn will have a catastrophic impact on employment in the sector."
In the SPI report the contribution of the Irish film and television drama industry to the Irish economy was assessed and the measures required to sustain and develop the industry into the future identified.
The report identifies that the industry now employs 4,300 people directly and is indirectly responsible for a further 3,000 jobs through the influence of film on international tourists. 8% of all international tourists (11% of US tourists) cite film as a key factor in their decision to come to Ireland each year.
"The industry is now at a stage where its talent pool is sufficiently experienced to be able to support four to five feature films at any one time. With the number of high calibre film related courses now available in Ireland I would expect the skills base to grow even further in the coming years to the extent where the film industry could feasibly expect to employ up to 11,000 people directly. I would urge the Government to consider the full implications of the termination of Section 481, which would undoubtedly result not only in extensive job losses for the industry, but would also contribute to the demise of a healthy indigenous film industry which showcases some of the best of Ireland's talent internationally," said Lowe.
The Irish film industry contributes €107 million annually to Irish GDP and attracts an average of €136 million annually through foreign inward investment. Section 481 has benefited many regions in Ireland due to the mobility of the industry, with the result that nearly every county in Ireland has been used for a film location in the past 10 years.
(GB)