4 August 2019
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South Central Michael McGrath has expressed concern that Cork could miss out on new film industry opportunities after it was excluded from a tax incentive for the industry.
The 5% Regional Uplift tax incentive is available for four years and is designed to encourage film and tv makers to consider locations outside of the traditional Dublin/Wicklow hub. However, the government has excluded Cork city and county from the scheme.
Deputy McGrath commented, “The decision to leave Cork out of the tax incentive scheme is baffling and now could see investment in the film and tv industry here fall off dramatically, which not only impacts on workers, but also affects the local economy, which has been boosted by an increase in production over the past few years.
“Cork has proven itself in terms of being able to produce homegrown talent, both in front of and behind the camera. The city and county has been home to The Young Offenders, Float Like A Butterfly and MAZE, and these productions have created an excitement and enthusiasm for film and tv across the city and county.
“If Cork is excluded from this tax incentive, it risks undoing all of the work which has been so hard got over the past few years, and we could even see Cork falling behind in terms of investment. This is an industry on the rise, and there is a real hunger to continue to support it.
“The mechanism which the government selected to secure the enhanced State aid is discriminating against Cork and I am urging Minister Madigan to re-examine the current model to ensure that Cork is not unfairly excluded from this important funding stream”, concluded Deputy McGrath.
