Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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5. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures her Department has taken to proactively consult the public since the Government launched its commemorative programme; and the number of formal submissions that have been received to date. [10172/15]

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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My question relates to the 1916 commemorative programme. What measures has the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht taken to proactively consult the public since the Government launched its commemorative programme? How many formal submissions been received?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The objective of the Ireland 2016 initiative, which I am leading and which was formally launched on 12 November 2014, is to develop, co-ordinate and deliver a programme to honour and remember those who fought or died in the Easter Rising. It will also reflect on the legacy of that period and look towards our future, based on the themes set out in the Government's framework plan. I am committed, together with my Government colleagues, to ensuring that the commemorations to mark the centenary in 2016 will be inclusive, appropriate and respectful.

A 2016 project office in my Department is engaged in an extensive consultation process across the Government, State agency and community sectors to progress the development of detailed plans for 2016. In order to facilitate engagement with local communities and people of all ages nationwide, I have met representatives of the County and City Management Association and have requested local authority CEOs to take the lead in the development of local-level plans for Ireland 2016 in their individual counties during 2015.

The response has been very positive. Dedicated Ireland 2016 co-ordinators and steering groups have been put in place in each local authority to help shape and drive the relevant county programmes. A series of public meetings will be undertaken in each county, at which members of the public can come together to hear about Ireland 2016, meet those involved in their community, and explore and learn about how they can get involved. I have allocated €1 million to local authorities in 2015 to support this overall process.

Meetings have also taken place with other key Departments, agencies, local authorities and interested parties. My Department's 2016 project office is engaging with the national cultural institutions, the Arts Council, Culture Ireland and the Heritage Council to ensure that a comprehensive and diverse cultural programme is developed. Meetings and a dedicated workshop have also been held with a wide range of Irish language groups in order to develop an Irish language programme. My Department has been working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to develop an appropriate programme involving the Irish diaspora and with the Department of Education and Skills to ensure the involvement of primary and post-primary schools and third level education. My Department has also been engaging with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to ensure that the views of children are taken on board and that they have a meaningful contribution to make.

My Department is also engaging with representatives of the various relatives groups and individual relatives to hear their views on the overall programme, and to ensure that they will have a central role in a number of the key State events.

Over 100 proposals have been received in the 2016 project office to date from members of the public and interested parties via e-mail, postal submissions and through the project website, www.ireland.ie. I very much appreciate and welcome all ideas and submissions received. I look forward to continuing engagement with all stakeholders and members of the public as the Ireland 2016 initiative develops.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for her answer. I know things have progressed recently. However, it is well known that the preparations for the official launch of the 1916 commemorative programme in November were rushed and were undertaken under considerable time pressure. The website for the 100th anniversary commemorative programme for Easter 2016, www.ireland.ie, was only secured a week before the launch on 12 November, according to documents released to The Irish Timesunder the Freedom of Information Act.

The Government faced considerable criticism in the wake of the launch in November, with the official video for the launch, Ireland Inspires, being widely criticised for making no reference to the Easter Rising, even though I note the Minister's reply states that it was to honour those who fought or died in the Rising. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht also admitted that the Irish version of the programme on the 1916 website came from Google Translate. Thankfully it was quickly removed and replaced by the correct version.

Does the Minister agree that the sequence of events points to a complete lack of priority being given to our national 1916 commemorations? Irish people were rightly enraged by the clear lack of respect being shown at that stage to the hugely significant centenary events next year.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. The plan launched last November was an overarching plan and it was not rushed, as the Government wished to allow people to engage with it. It was a high-level plan and has been highly successful in respect of the level of engagement experienced thus far. It was necessary to start with something, and while there was a lot of talk about it, I am glad about that because it means people are engaging. When people are talking about something, they are engaging, and as I stated earlier, the Department has had great engagement with local authorities. Moreover, many different groups have approached the Department and have made suggestions. This engagement process does not stop here; it will continue, because the main commemoration event will not take place until Easter Sunday 2016, which of course will be the big State occasion. In fairness, there was a lot more to the night of the launch than the video, and many other items were not picked up on. The Deputy can rest assured that the Proclamation is at the centre of the Government's commemorations. We will commemorate and remember the signatories and all those who lost their lives in 1916.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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I am sure the Minister will agree the video was something of a disaster. However, Irish people are equally outraged that as we approach the 1916 centenary, the central element in an area described by the National Museum as the most important historic site in modern Irish history has fallen into complete disrepair in an increasingly derelict site. I refer to the 1916 national monument in Moore Street, with which the Minister and her Department are familiar. The disgraceful derelict state of the national monument and the recent failed land swap proposal is proof that its current owner, Chartered Land, views the national monument as nothing more than an item of commercial exchange rather than the central element in the area. The owners have shown themselves to be unreliable guardians of our history and heritage, and their continuing ownership and future control of the monument, through NAMA funding from the public purse, should no longer be acceptable. Moreover, the failure of the State to intervene in this matter, in light of the statement by the National Museum, is a clear breach of its responsibility to act in the public interest. In her position of guardianship of the culture and heritage of this State, I ask the Minister to act on her obligations. This means protecting and preserving the national monument by whatever means are available without further delay. Can the Minister assure the people that in the lead-up to the historic 1916 celebrations next year, everything will be done on her behalf to protect the monument in order that it can take its rightful place throughout the celebrations?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. I was deeply disappointed by the voting down of the proposal for Moore Street at a meeting of Dublin City Council. The Deputy should believe me when I state that I considered the plans to be highly impressive. It was planned to have a lovely interpretive centre that would reflect well on the entire area. This was a decision of Dublin City Council, and as they are the elected members, I must respect their decision, but I am deeply disappointed that the proposal did not proceed because I thought it was a great opportunity to have this interpretive centre in Moore Street. I should make clear that my job is to protect the national monument, and that is where my function lies.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Yes.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My door is open and I will continue to engage to try to make progress on this matter. It is an awful shame that the proposal did not go ahead. I saw a video of what was proposed and it would have been a fine centre that would have respected and reflected what happened in 1916.