If the McCarthy Report recommendation to abolish the Irish Film Board is implemented it will have “serious implications” for Galway city and county and could put more than 2,000 people out of work.
This is the view of Independent councillor Catherine Connolly, who said the recommendation in the McCarthy Report to abolish the Irish Film Board, and to transfer its functions to Enterprise Ireland is “totally unacceptable”.
Cllr Connolly feels that the McCarthy Report “singles out” the Irish Film Board for “special treatment” but the proposal to do away with the IFB is made, “without any analysis whatsoever”.
She said there is no analysis of the financial returns to the Government on its investment of €17 million in the IFB or on the “crucial role” the IFB plays in creating employment.
“The Government earns more from the Film Industry than it costs,” she says. “The Audiovisual Sector alone is worth €550 million a year and employs 6,900 people who mostly work for 560 small companies or as independent contractors.
“In the last 15 years the IFB has invested 88 million of taxpayers’ money in projects which resulted in a total spend of €809 million. That’s nearly €10 for every €1 invested. In 2008 the IFB invested €17 million in major film, TV, and animation projects which resulted in a total spend of €125 million. The VAT and PAYE on production spend alone is more than the cost of the Irish Film Board.”
She pointed out that closing the IFB will put about 2,000 people out of work immediately “who will actually then cost the Government more in terms of social welfare”. She also pointed out that Galway has been used as a location for shooting parts of the films and TV series such as Aifric, Ros na Run, and PS I Love You.
“Irish Films play in increasing the number of tourists visiting Ireland and Galway in particular,” she said. “Indeed 15 per cent of all tourists say they come to Ireland because of a film.”
Cllr Connolly has tabled a motion for the next Galway City Council meeting calling on the Government not to go ahead with this recommendation
