- Film sector grows by 42% since 2011 - this year 40 projects, creating up to 800 jobs, to be supported
- €5 million boost for heritage buildings will support labour-intensive repair and renovation projects
- Arts Council to support 450 individuals and over 870 organisations this year - for each week of 2014 more than €2.3 million will be invested in arts, culture and film
Thursday, February 27th - With the publication of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014, Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, has said that arts, culture and heritage are contributing to the jobs recovery. Minister Deenihan has outlined a number of specific investments and schemes which are helping to maximise the economic impact and job creation potential of the arts and heritage sectors.
Minister Deenihan commented:
“Led by Minister Richard Bruton, the Government has a strong, coherent and connected approach to job creation through the Action Plan for Jobs. We have to continue to make progress, but with an increase of 54,000 in those in employment over the last year it is clear that we are moving in the right direction.
"My Department is determined to support increased employment across the arts, culture and film sectors. Whether it is support for heritage properties, our film and audiovisual sectors, or the arts and creative industries, my Department is working to sustain existing jobs and open up new opportunities in the arts, culture and heritage sectors."
The creative sector, which supports tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs across Ireland, remains a core focus of the Department. This year, the Arts Council - the Government agency for the funding and development of the arts in Ireland - will support some 450 individuals and over 870 organisations across a wide range of arts venues, festivals, arts organisations and touring initiatives.
The 2014 investment in protected buildings for 2014 - the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme - will deliver a much needed boost for heritage buildings whilst incentivising jobs-rich repair and restoration works.
Significant reforms in the film support regime have been introduced in recent budgets, and this year in the region of 40 significant projects - creating up to 800 jobs in the audiovisual production sector - will be supported. The independent film, television drama and animation sector in Ireland reached a new high last year, contributing over €168 million to the Irish economy through job creation and spend on local goods and services, an increase of 42% on 2011 figures.
In January, work began on a €26 million refurbishment project on the National Gallery. This major renovation project is being jointly funded by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the National Gallery of Ireland and the Office of Public Works. The project is expected to support approximately 280 jobs over its lifetime, and is expected to take 24 months to complete. Further capital projects are underway or scheduled at Killarney House, Killarney National Park and at the GPO in Dublin.
A full list of all actions being taken by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is available in the Action Plan for Jobs 2014.