Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 17 and 23 together.

Deputies on all sides of the House will agree that the centenary anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising will be an important occasion in the public life of our nation and present a unique opportunity to remember the sacrifices made by past generations. The Government's priority concern has been to plan a number of significant capital projects to provide a lasting legacy of the centenary. At a time when resources were and are constrained, I am very pleased that capital funding has been made available for a number of key projects. An announcement of an allocation from stimulus funding of €22 million for 2015 was made on 13 May 2014. The flagship projects to be funded include the development of a permanent interpretive centre at the GPO; the digitisation and provision of a permanent home for the Military Service Pensions Archive; the development of visitor facilities at Kilmainham Courthouse; the conservation of Richmond Barracks; a tenement museum in Henrietta Street, and a visitor centre at Teach an Phiarsaigh in Ros Muc. Significant refurbishment and development works are also to be carried out at the National Archives headquarters and at the National Concert Hall. Given the time required to complete these projects, the Government has accorded them priority with regard to the available funding for commemorations.

I also welcome the many commemorative initiatives by national cultural institutions, local authorities, academic centres, ex-service organisations, community and history groups which have recently marked aspects of centenary history. I mention with particular appreciation the programme prepared by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in respect of the Dublin Lock-out. The possibility of funding of events and projects at community and local authority level will fall to be examined in future budgetary discussions.

The Oireachtas all-party consultation group on commemorations has met on 19 occasions since February 2012. Keeping pace with the developing centenary programme, it was agreed last year that meetings should take place on a monthly basis. I can supply the dates if required. I have chaired 18 of these meetings, with the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley acting as chair of the only meeting I was unable to attend in December 2012. With the exception of one meeting held at Kilmainham Gaol, all meetings have taken place at Government Buildings in Dublin. The next meeting of the group is set for 24 June 2014. I am grateful for the interest and support of the members of the group.

I realise there is considerable public interest and expectation regarding the events to commemorate the Easter Rising. The focus of this ceremony should be unequivocally on the memory of those who fought in the Rising. I have asked the all-party group for its views on the nature of the events that should take place on Easter Sunday 2016 and take the opportunity to invite any Member of the House to make a submission in this regard.

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