Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I absolutely agree with the Deputy that it is so important to involve children in our commemorations. Children will be central to the 1916 commemorations and in this regard we have been working jointly with the Department of Education and Skills. I wish to acknowledge the latter Department's huge contribution to this project. That Department has a rich programme for the primary, post-primary and third-level education sectors. My Department's Ireland 2016 project office has been working closely with the Department of Education and Skills to ensure that the programme reaches every school in the country. Key events and activities taking place in schools will include a presentation of the national flag and a copy of the Proclamation by a member of the Defence Forces to every national school in the country. Our work will continue with the Thomas Meagher Foundation, which has been engaged in the provision of the national flag to secondary schools around the country.

We will ask children to write a new proclamation for a new generation in their own schools. This will reflect the values, hopes and aspirations of the 2016 generation. We are asking them to look at the Proclamation, examine it and understand it, as well as studying the signatories. A special Proclamation day will take place in all educational institutions on 15 March 2016. It is envisaged that it will include raising the national flag and be followed by a reading of the Proclamation.

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