Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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8. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount that has been spent, to date, by her Department, in preparation for the 1916 Commemoration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10187/15]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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I am aware that the Minister has already answered a number of questions on the 1916 Commemoration and I do not want to be repetitive. My question relates to the budget allocation for all the activities around the commemoration. The Department has earmarked €26 million, €22 million of which is to be spent on capital projects. How far along the road is the Minister with the expenditure? Does she have concerns about the risk of overruns in the budget? It seems a very ambitious capital programme for the amount of resources allocated and I would be interested to hear the Minister's views on it.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Last year, I established a 2016 project office in my Department which has responsibility for co-ordinating and leading on all activities relating to the development and implementation of the Ireland 2016 initiative, which is focused on the commemoration of the centenary of the events of the 1916 Easter Rising. The initiative will also reflect on the legacy of that period and look towards our future, based around the themes set out in the Government's framework plan. I have secured a dedicated allocation of €4 million in current funding to support the development in 2015 of the Ireland 2016 initiative. This allocation will be used to engage with and support a wide range of activities and events by interested groups, including local community groups and the arts, as well as Irish language and educational projects. Details of individual allocations from this €4 million are currently being finalised. The allocation of €4 million is in addition to the capital provision of €22 million, which will be allocated in 2015 to a number of flagship commemorations projects. I also secured €2 million in additional funding for the Arts Council for its commemoration programme in preparation for 2016. The national cultural institutions have also been preparing their plans for Ireland 2016, which will be supported both from their own resources and from additional allocations to be provided by my Department.

Some €1 million of the current funding allocation of €4 million for 2015 will be to be distributed across all local authorities. The purpose of this funding allocation is to support engagement and facilitation within local communities to generate awareness of the Ireland 2016 initiative and the commemoration of the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, and to support each local authority in developing and delivering a plan for a suitable programme of events and initiatives to take place at a county level in line with the national plans for Ireland 2016. Local authorities will be notified of individual allocations very shortly.

To date, expenditure of more than €2 million has been incurred across the 2016 programme. This includes expenditure on capital projects, as well as the current and administrative costs arising. It does not include expenditure incurred by other key Departments and offices such as the OPW and the Department of Defence.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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I thank the Minister. My original question related to whether the Minister is confident that the various capital projects that are under way will be completed within budget by the time of the commemoration next year. I note the really ambitious programme of work that has been put in place. This programme includes the construction on an interpretative centre in the GPO. The term "interpretative centre" is one of my pet bugbears and I am of the view that what is proposed should be called a visitors centre, which, essentially, is what it will be. The programme also includes work to adapt the Kilmainham Gaol complex and the military archives at Cathal Brugha Barracks. All of this work is necessary and I am hugely supportive of it. However, is all of it achievable within the budget that has been allocated and will the various projects be completed on time? Some of the work is behind schedule. Given that the Minister was not in office when that work commenced, this is not her fault. However, the timeframe is quite tight and the turnaround in respect these various major projects is only 12 months.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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We have established a team within the Department which has been charged both with monitoring progress closely to ensure that the projects will be delivered on time and with monitoring costs. I am satisfied that the various projects are on target both in terms of their completion dates and the costs involved. The centre at the GPO will be a fine facility and we hope it will attract in the region of 300,000 visitors to Dublin's city centre each year. The project at Kilmainham Gaol will facilitate the expansion of the services available there. On each occasion one passes the complex, one can see a queue of people waiting to gain entry. The conversion of the adjoining courthouse will expand the facilities at Kilmainham and I am of the view that this will prove to be extremely beneficial. The project at Richmond Barracks is a community and Dublin City Council-led initiative, with support from my Department. I am in receipt of regular updates and I am satisfied that the projects remain on target.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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The initiatives to which the Minister refers are all really important in the context of the population of Ireland. People are going to feel proud when all of these historic sites are improved and upgraded in time for the commemoration. I am concerned, however, that the Ireland Inspires proposal was rejected by the Department. Essentially, this proposal revolved around a plan to attract visitors from around the world to attend the 1916 Commemoration and it was very much based on The Gathering model. I am curious to discover why the Department rejected the proposal in question and why it was not embraced as a concept to tap into the huge tourism potential that exists in terms of encouraging members of the diaspora to return to Ireland and celebrate next year's centenary. The Minister referred to the 300,000 people the new facility at the GPO is expected to attract to Dublin's city centre each year. There is huge potential to attract visitors from across the globe, both next year and beyond. It seems strange that the Department rejected the proposal.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Many different events are going to take place in the context of 2016, one of which involves connecting with the diaspora. We are working with our embassies throughout the world to link in with the members of the diaspora. I visited New Orleans in November for the International Famine Commemoration 2014 and I am aware that there is a great interest in the 1916 commemorations. The Deputy may rest assured that we are going to connect with the diaspora. However, it must be remembered that the next year's commemorations are going to be about the Irish people and about the country itself. The events that will take place will allow us to remember those who lost their lives in 1916 and respect the sacrifice they made. If people want to visit Ireland to participate in the commemorations, they will certainly be made very welcome. I reassure the Deputy that our embassies will, with the support of Culture Ireland, continue their programme of engagement with the diaspora on this matter.