Irish film fund just a first step

Sinn Féin Culture spokesperson, East Derry MLA Francie Brolly, has welcomed the announcement that the British Government has made £12 million available to support Irish language film and television production over the next three years. Brolly added, however, that this must signal greater progress in a number of key areas, including the availability of TG4 throughout the Six Counties.

"This £12 million should help us to meet the targets of delivering 90 hours of Irish language broadcasting a year to an audience of 25,000 people by 2007/'08 and to enable at least 15 people to be trained each year in production and broadcasting skills," said Brolly.

"This is good news for the Irish language community but it must now signal the start of the British Government stepping up their commitments. They still have a long way to go to implement commitments made in the Good Friday Agreement, particularly on access to TG4."