New report calls for Regional Film Incentive for Film and TV Sector to be restored

New Report Calls for Regional Film Incentive for Film and TV Sector to be Restored. Liam Neeson pictured on the set of 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank. Pic. Brian Arthur

Ireland’s booming film and TV industry is at risk of stalling unless the Government urgently reinstates the regional uplift incentive, according to a major new independent report

The study, carried out by international consultancy Olsberg SPI for Innovate Limerick / Film in Limerick, warns that the loss of the incentive, which encouraged productions to film outside Dublin and Wicklow, has slowed momentum in regional hubs such as the Mid-West. Without renewed support, it concludes, Ireland risks losing jobs, investment, and its competitive edge in the global screen sector.

“The removal of the regional uplift has significantly impacted regional growth in the Mid-West and elsewhere in Ireland. A dedicated replacement, supported by a well-structured regional production fund, would restore momentum, encourage sustainable growth, and consolidate the regions as thriving film hubs outside the capital,” the report states.

Since the opening of Troy Studios and the establishment of the Film in Limerick office, the Mid-West has rapidly developed into one of Ireland’s leading regional screen hubs, with support from Screen Ireland, local stakeholders, and education institutions such as Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, Technological University of the Shannon and University of Limerick. Together, these partnerships have built a skilled crew base, attracted international productions, and delivered significant local economic impact.

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AppleTV+’s Foundation (2021-), largely filmed at Troy Studios in Limerick, signalled the Mid-West’s emergence as a major international production hub, followed by projects such as Bonhoeffer (2025), a €22m Irish-Belgian feature shot across Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary and the upcoming 4 Kids Walk into a Bank starring Liam Neeson. Other regional highlights include the fantasy series The Wayfinders (in production at Troy Studios and on location in Clare and Tipperary), the thriller Woken (2024), filmed in Clare, the TV-series Hidden Assets, filmed in Clare and Limerick and TV drama Smother (2019–2023), filmed on the Atlantic coast in Lahinch, Co. Clare.

The report was commissioned by Innovate Limerick / Film in Limerick as part of its ongoing efforts to assess and strengthen the Mid-West’s role in Ireland’s national screen industry. It was funded in partnership with Regional Skills Mid-West, which connects employers, education providers, and government agencies across Clare, Limerick, and Tipperary to address skills needs. The report highlights future skills requirements and supports the continued growth of the region’s screen industry. Additional support was provided by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board and the Local Enterprise Offices in the Mid-West.

Paul C Ryan, Regional Film Manager, at Film in Limerick, said, “As the report makes clear, without a functioning and long-term regional uplift, the regions cannot compete on a level playing field with Dublin and Wicklow. Restoring it will ensure that every region can keep crews in consistent work, and attract world-class productions.”

The report also highlights the wider economic benefits, with more than 90 local businesses, from hotels to hardware suppliers, engaged by a single feature film production in the region.

With global competition intensifying, the study concludes that reinstating the regional uplift is a decisive step to keep Ireland at the forefront of international film and TV production.