The limit on the aggregate amount of loans, investments or money provided by the Irish Film Board has been doubled to £30 million, the Minister for Arts and Heritage, Ms de Valera, said.

She added that the actual amounts to be allocated to the board for annual loan would be decided in the annual estimates, which had to be approved by the Dail.

Introducing the Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill, Ms de Valera said the board was a central plank in the nurturing and development of the Irish indigenous film industry as an important input to both the cultural and the economic development of the State.