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LONDON � The Irish Film Board has been awarded an extra Euros 2 million ($2.8 million) from the government to attract foreign films and TV projects to shoot in Ireland.

This is the third year running that the Irish government has provided additional coin for the IFB's International Production Fund. Over the past two years, the fund has been instrumental in bringing $85 million of production expenditure into the country.

The money is on top of the $28 million a year that the IFB receives to support Irish cinema.

Recent international projects that have shot in Ireland include the Showtime TV series "The Tudors," "Becoming Jane" and "My Boy Jack."

Seamus Brennan, minister for arts, sport and tourism, said, "There is now more than ever greater global competition in securing film and TV productions. Ireland now holds its own thanks to our talent pool and incentives package. However, Ireland needs to be more ambitious. I am strongly of the view that there is still a large amount of untapped talent and opportunity in Ireland, especially given our rich history of great storytellers and wonderful storytelling ability."