Ireland Seeks To Double Audiovisual Sector

A new report aims to 'unlock the full potential of the Irish audiovisual economy'.

It also seeks to create 5,000 jobs and double turnover to €1bn in the sector, according to the Irish Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan, who welcomed the report of the future of the audiovisual industry.

The report which is entitled Creative Capital, identifies the Irish audiovisual sector as a pillar of Ireland's creative industries and a major opportunity to deliver growth over the next five years.

It sets out a comprehensive set of recommendations which aim to double the turnover of the Irish audiovisual industry from €500m to a €1bn, to double jobs in the sector from 5,000 to 10,000 jobs and to increase exports for the sector.

Minister Deenihan also announced that the Dáil Government had approved the formation of a new inter-departmental committee with representatives from the Departments of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Department of Communications, Energy and National Resources, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and a number of industry representatives, which will examine the feasibility of implementing the recommendations in the report.

"The Irish audiovisual sector possesses world-class talent and this report is key to unlocking its potential.

"The coherent interdepartmental collaboration between, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform along with the industry itself, will be central to the success of achieving sustainable growth for the sector and the skills to build a sustainable export market," he said.

Brendan Tuohy, Chairman of the Steering Group for the Audiovisual Industry Strategic Review which published the report, said: "The recommendations in this report are the blueprint for the creation of 5,000 new, highly skilled jobs in the audiovisual industries.

"The ingredients for achieving international growth in the Irish audiovisual sector are in place and ready to be harnessed. The international audiovisual marketplace is valued at €30 trillion with an increasing global demand for content. This report contains a series of recommendations that, if implemented in a timely manner by the Government and Irish-based audiovisual companies, has the potential to transform the Irish audiovisual industry and to exploit the international marketplace for maximum benefit to the Irish economy."

The aim of the Steering Group was to consult with the audiovisual content production industry and its major stakeholders in order to deliver a plan to build on the success to date and to stimulate future growth, primarily into international markets.

(BMcC)