Permits

There are different procedures and permits required for filming in Cork City and Cork County. They are outlined separately below.

 

Please note that from May 31st, 2019, with the expansion of Cork City’s boundaries, certain areas in proximity to Cork City which previously fell within the administrative remit of Cork County Council are now covered by Cork City Council.

This interactive MAP allows you to explore the changes (including checking addresses by Eircode)


Cork City Council

CORK CITY COUNCIL

When filming in Cork you must contact the relevant Department(s) individually, which will be determined by your locations. The following Departments cover all public locations in the City.

Details on Services & Personnel, plus application forms, can be found below as well as on their website: http://www.corkcity.ie

Roads & Transportation

They cover all filming on streets and pavements within the City.
Contact Rebecca Landry: rebecca_landry@corkcity.ie

021-4924758

Parks & Open Spaces

Tourism, Events, Arts & Marketing (TEAM)
Contact Stephanie Connolly: stephanie_connolly@corkcity.ie
Tel: 021-4924333

Public Car Parks

Contact Lisa Horgan: lisa_horgan@corkcity.ie
Tel: 021-4924767

Filming in the English Market

Details on filming and an application form are available on the English Market website: http://www.englishmarket.ie/information/filmingintheenglishmarket/

The English Market is managed by Aramark Management on behalf of Cork City Council and you must make contact with both. For general enquiries about filming, contact: englishmarket@corkcity.ie

For more detailed queries and to make an application:

Aramark Management
Contact: Orla Lannin: lannin-orla@aramark.ie

Property Section, Cork City Council
Contact: Denis Hickey, denis_hickey@corkcity.ie

PERMITS

Which departments do I contact?

Permits & official road closure notices

It is important to understand the difference between applying for a general Filming Permit and an Official Road Closure.

General filming permits allow you to shoot on streets and pavements where you are NOT obstructing either traffic or pedestrians to a significant degree. This is a debatable area, and clarification should always be sought directly from the Council Roads Depts, but as a general example if you require either traffic or pedestrians to be stopped or diverted because of your filming for any sustained length of time, you will need to apply for an Official Road Closure.

This could be because you need to block the street or road/pavement for extended takes; where you need to stop traffic to get ‘clean’ sound; or where you have camera & grip equipment or props and dressing on the street/road that would impair vehicles or people.

If you can demonstrate your filming will not affect either pedestrians or traffic to any significant degree, i.e. you will allow the free flow of traffic at all times, then a general Filming Permit should suffice.

The City Council has 3 forms:

  1. General filming in public places that are NOT roads or pavements, (called Application for filming in public places);
  2. Filming on roads or pavements where an official Road Closure is NOT required, (called the Roads Dept. Application Form PS)
  3. Finally the form to apply for an official Road Closure (called Application for an official Road Closure R1).

They also have a short Explanatory Notes on Road Closures guide, which is very helpful. All forms and guide are available to download  from their site at http://www.corkcity.ie/services/roadstransportation/roadsforms/

PRINCIPLES BEHIND MAKING AN APPLICATION

The general principles behind any application, but particularly for Official Road Closures, is in providing a clear and detailed:

  • Traffic Management Plan (including your own vehicles, action or otherwise)
  • People Management Plan (including your own people)
  • Risk Assessment of your particular activities, covering both members of the Public and your own Staff/Contributors.

This is not designed to hinder you, but rather the opposite – by adhering to these principles the plan for your shoot will be clearer to your team, more efficiently executed and, most importantly, SAFE for everyone!

Full details of the requirements can be found here: http://www.corkcity.ie/services/roadstransportation/roadsforms/filedownload,2322,en.pdf

An application form can be downloaded here: http://www.corkcity.ie/services/roadstransportation/roadsforms/.

Fees

Fees, if applicable, apply only to the administration costs for the application. They do NOT cover the cost of either Council Staff on the ground, materials such as Diversion/Road Closure signs or particularly costs associated with using off duty police or traffic wardens. These are the responsibility of the Production Company and are at the discretion of these bodies, so check directly with them first. Fees do not cover the cost of advertising official Road Closures.

Cost of Official Road Closures

It is worth noting here that an Official Road Closure can entail significant costs as well as time and labour. Road Closures must be advertised in recognized newspapers at least 1 month in advance. There is a public consultation process involved here by law, and therefore the intended Road Closure must be advertised initially for a minimum of 2-3 days, followed by a period of two weeks where the public may put in objections. These objections, if any, must be addressed by yourselves through the Council before a further advertisement is taken out detailing the agreed nature of the Road Closure and actual dates.

Other costs can include the procurement of labour and signage to set up Diversions (which must be in place prior to filming). This will definitely involve meetings with An Garda Siochana (Police) and Traffic Wardens Dept as well as the Roads Dept. An authorised representative of the Production Company will have to attend these meetings in person at a time suitable to the other parties.

Car Parks & Parks/Open Spaces assess each application individually and decide on the level of fee, if any, based upon the size & nature of the ‘Event’ as they refer to it.

However, the Roads Dept. (which you are most likely to deal with), operate a ‘flat fee’ system for permits to cover the cost of administration, as they often are the key stakeholders who have to liaise with other Departments and affiliated Statutory Bodies. Their fee is fixed at €110 per application, regardless of size, nature or complexity of filming, where the production is mainly for profit or commercial gain. Students and non-commercial productions should state this clearly in their Application. The fee is payable in advance of filming or granting of the permit and is non-refundable.

Please note that this fee does NOT include any parking charges that would apply to any normal vehicle, nor does it include removal of street furniture or other services where Council staff may have to be employed. The Council will advise you of these after your initial application.

Application Procedure

Application Forms are available to download at the City Council website, www.corkcity.ie or in section above. Forms should be submitted directly to the individual concerned. The Council views filming as an ‘event’, much like a parade or concert, and therefore you may find that many of the questions in the form are not relevant to your project. However, answer as comprehensively as possible and use a separate sheet if necessary to explain your activities clearly. Applications should be made AT LEAST two weeks in advance, and ideally six weeks where more complex shoots are involved, or where an Official Road Closure is required (see above), as your application may have to go in front of a Committee comprising different Departments and Statutory Bodies like the Police, depending upon requirements, and they only meet every few weeks.

Please note that an authorised member of your production company may be required to attend Council meetings, pay the appropriate fees and sign for the application.

Insurances and Indemnity

Both Cork City Council & Cork County Council require evidence of adequate Public Liability and Employer’s Liability Insurance plus a specific ‘Indemnity to Principal’ clause from your Insurance company or Broker, regardless of the size or nature of your filming activity.

The current MINIMUM requirements are as follows;

  • Public Liability insurance to a minimum of €6.5 million Euro
  • Employer’s Liability Insurance to a minimum of €13 million Euro
  • Currency: These minimum amounts can be in any major currency (e.g. Dollars or Pounds Sterling), but must equate to the amounts stated at the time of application.

Indemnity to Principal

You must provide a letter from your Insurance company or Broker specifically indemnifying the appropriate Council against any actions or claims arising out of your filming activity. This is normal practice for insurance companies and they should be familiar with the wording. It must, however, contain the wording ‘ [X] insurance company/broker specifically indemnifies [X] Council against any actions or claims arising out of this filming activity.’

Finally, although all Local Authorities have application procedures and forms to fill in, be assured that Cork City & County Councils are as film-friendly as possible, and will do all they can to assist you both in your application and in facilitating your shoot.


Cork County Council

CORK COUNTY COUNCIL

The majority of applications are made through the Roads Department, which is based in Skibbereen, West Cork. They can liaise with other relevant Departments as required. Being the largest geographical County in Ireland it is split into 4 ‘districts’ but key decision-making is made primarily at County level.

There are a number of ‘Area Engineers’ covering the County who are the local contacts and you should liaise with them through the County Council Roads Dept. for local information & advice, e.g. traffic flows, town parking and scheduled road works etc.

A full list of Contacts for Area Engineers Offices can be downloaded here: Area Engineers Offices

Contact: Roads Department,
Maria O’Donoghue,
Administration Officer,
maria.odonoghue@corkcoco.ie
Tel: 028-21299.

PERMITS

Which departments do I contact?

PERMITS & OFFICIAL ROAD CLOSURE NOTICES
It is important to understand the difference between applying for a general Filming Permit and an Official Road Closure.

General filming permits allow you to shoot on streets and pavements where you are NOT obstructing either traffic or pedestrians to a significant degree. This is a debatable area, and clarification should always be sought directly from the Council Roads Depts, but as a general example if you require either traffic or pedestrians to be stopped or diverted because of your filming for any sustained length of time, you will need to apply for an Official Road Closure.

This could be because you need to block the street or road/pavement for extended takes; where you need to stop traffic to get ‘clean’ sound; or where you have camera & grip equipment or props and dressing on the street/road that would impair vehicles or people.

If you can demonstrate your filming will not affect either pedestrians or traffic to any significant degree, i.e. you will allow the free flow of traffic at all times, then a general Filming Permit should suffice.

The County Council has a form for Official Road Closure, (called Application for an official Road Closure Order) which you can access HERE plus a helpful Explanatory Notes guide on Road Closures, available from their site HERE

PRINCIPLES BEHIND MAKING AN APPLICATION

The general principles behind any application, but particularly for Official Road Closures, is in providing a clear and detailed:

  • Traffic Management Plan (including your own vehicles, action or otherwise)
  • People Management Plan (including your own people)
  • Risk Assessment of your particular activities, covering both members of the Public and your own Staff/Contributors.

This is not designed to hinder you, but rather the opposite – by adhering to these principles the plan for your shoot will be clearer to your team, more efficiently executed and, most importantly, SAFE for everyone!

Fees

Fees, if applicable, apply only to the administration costs for the application. They do NOT cover the cost of either Council Staff on the ground, materials such as Diversion/Road Closure signs or particularly costs associated with using off duty police or traffic wardens. These are the responsibility of the Production Company and are at the discretion of these bodies, so check directly with them first. Fees do not cover the cost of advertising official Road Closures.

Cost of Official Road Closures

It is worth noting here that an Official Road Closure can entail significant costs as well as time and labour. Road Closures must be advertised in recognized newspapers at least 1 month in advance. There is a public consultation process involved here by law, and therefore the intended Road Closure must be advertised initially for a minimum of 2-3 days, followed by a period of two weeks where the public may put in objections. These objections, if any, must be addressed by yourselves through the Council before a further advertisement is taken out detailing the agreed nature of the Road Closure and actual dates.

Other costs can include the procurement of labour and signage to set up Diversions (which must be in place prior to filming). This will definitely involve meetings with An Garda Siochana (Police) and Traffic Wardens Dept as well as the Roads Dept. An authorised representative of the Production Company will have to attend these meetings in person at a time suitable to the other parties.

At present, there are no direct administration fees for applications. However, each application is assessed individually and fees may apply to larger and more complex shoots if they involve the removal of street furniture or other services which require the employment of Council staff, nor does it cover parking charges. The Council will advise you of these once they have processed the initial application.

Official Road Closures, however, do have fees attached for advertising etc. The Forms & Guidelines are all downloadable above & fees are clearly stated.

Application Procedure

Application Forms are available to download in the section above and at the County Council website HERE

Forms must be sent directly to the appropriate Department of the Council, and if applicable, individual.

Insurance and Indemnity

Both Cork City Council & Cork County Council require evidence of adequate Public Liability and Employer’s Liability Insurance plus a specific ‘Indemnity to Principal’ clause from your Insurance company or Broker, regardless of the size or nature of your filming activity.

The current MINIMUM requirements are as follows;

  • Public Liability insurance to a minimum of €6.5 million Euro
  • Employer’s Liability Insurance to a minimum of €13 million Euro
  • Currency: These minimum amounts can be in any major currency (e.g. Dollars or Pounds Sterling), but must equate to the amounts stated at the time of application.

Indemnity to Principal

You must provide a letter from your Insurance company or Broker specifically indemnifying the appropriate Council against any actions or claims arising out of your filming activity. This is normal practice for insurance companies and they should be familiar with the wording. It must, however, contain the wording ‘ [X] insurance company/broker specifically indemnifies [X] Council against any actions or claims arising out of this filming activity.’

Finally, although all Local Authorities have application procedures and forms to fill in, be assured that Cork City & County Councils are as film-friendly as possible, and will do all they can to assist you both in your application and in facilitating your shoot.