Ireland awarded €51m tax relief in 2015

New figures from the Revenue Commissioners in Ireland have shown that the country gave out film tax credits totalling €51m last year, which in turn supported more than 1,200 jobs.

According to the Irish Examiner, the statistics illustrate that the estimated expenditure on employment from the various projects was €97m, with the Pierce Brosnan-starrer I.T. scooping €2.4m when it filmed in Dublin.

Next on the list in order of amounts awarded was prolific Irish producer Element Pictures (The Lobster, Room, Frank) which won €1.63m for the third series of Red Rock, a TV drama set in a seaside police station.

Ireland raised its already substantial tax relief in 2015 from 28% to 32% and in May this year a change came into effect which saw the expenditure per project increase from €50m to €70m.

At the time the minister for finance, Michael Noonan, said of the rise: “With this increased cap we will encourage the necessary investment in the provision of studio and other film production facilities. The Irish film industry has a large impact on our culture, our international reputation and recognition. The industry also provides jobs and educational opportunities for many. I look forward to seeing many more quality productions from filmmakers in Ireland who have benefitted from this incentive.”

The country’s international filming profile has been raised considerably by the behemoth Star Wars franchise shooting on locations including Skellig Michael, while John Logan’s gothic horror TV drama Penny Dreadful has filmed three seasons to date in the Irish capital.