Coillte has signed an agreement with film and TV location specialists O’Carroll Mulhern Services (OCMS) to market Coillte properties for film, television and event business.

The agreement marks a new venture for the commercial semi-state company, adding to its wide-ranging business portfolio.

Coillte, whose estate includes 10 forest parks and over 150 recreation sites, already captures revenue from the licensing of sites as filming locations, but it is expected that this new business initiative will substantially increase those revenues. The film and television industry is worth approximately €550m annually in Ireland and supports about 6,500 full time jobs in the audio visual production sector. Furthermore, Fáilte Ireland estimates that 20% of tourists visit Ireland as a direct result of seeing images of the country on screen and such 'film induced tourism' is estimated to be worth €350m per annum to the Irish economy.

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Mark Foley, MD of Coillte’s Enterprise Division, said: "We are delighted to be expanding our business interests by entering into this agreement with OCMS to promote our estate within the film, TV and events industry. This industry is one which has seen a lot of growth in recent times and Coillte has numerous sites which are suitable for audio visual production. We hope this agreement will benefit a range of parties as increased film and TV production should lead to an influx in visitor numbers, boosting local economies in the process."

OCMS specialise in the creation of revenue streams through the promotion and leasing of site locations to the film, TV and event business. They have already commenced work on the compilation of an online catalogue which will include approximately fifty potential film and TV locations across the Coillte estate. Most of the industry activity is centred in the Dublin and Wicklow area which is where the majority of potential sites will be located but other areas will also be represented. It is hoped that the website will be launched this November.

(CD/MH)