Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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9. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding streams available to groups wishing to hold centenary commemorations of events relating to the War of Independence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27065/18]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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We are well over halfway through the decade of centenaries at this point. Communities throughout the country are commemorating various different events at a grassroots level, taking the initiative and marking those events. I understand that the Minister is carrying out a review of the various different funding streams and the plan from here on. That review has been going on for some months. When will that be available? Will it steer funding, priorities and criteria for those communities, which will make grant applications for their various local commemorations?

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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One of the most significant lessons from the Ireland 2016 centenary programme was the capacity of local communities to mobilise and achieve successful outcomes when the right structures and supports were put in place to assist their endeavours. The Government's approach to the remembrance of the significant historical events and related themes of the period from 1919 to 1923 will continue to be informed by the guidance of the expert advisory group on centenary commemorations, which is chaired by Dr. Maurice Manning, and by the all-party consultation group, once established. The expert advisory group's second phase mission statement was launched by my predecessor as Minister, Deputy Humphreys, last October. This statement provides a structure of guiding principles which will assist all interested parties in delivering appropriate commemorations at national and local level.

  In its second statement, the advisory group acknowledges the significant role played by local authorities in developing inclusive, citizen-focused, and authentic commemorations. The advisory group believes that they should continue this important work and be supported in their role. I share the view that local authorities will have a key role in supporting engagement by local communities and in developing suitable commemorative initiatives at county level. Following the conclusion of the decade of centenaries public consultation process at the end of February, the advisory group has been considering the guidance that it will provide to assist the Government in commemorating the significant historical events over the remainder of the decade. I expect to receive the group's advice shortly. I am aware that 20 of the 73 submissions received were made by local authorities and I very much appreciate their engagement and observations.

The issue of funding for the local authorities over the remainder of the decade will be examined in the context of the findings of the public consultation process and the guidance provided by the expert advisory group to Government. It will also be considered in the context of the overall approach by Government as part of the normal Estimates process.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister. I acknowledge that local authorities continue to fund groups throughout the country and community groups are enthusiastic and keen to ensure that their commemorations are marked locally. We are right in the middle of 2018 at this point and there are a great many significant commemorations for this year alone, including votes for women, the 1918 general election, the ending of the war and, most significantly, I feel, at the Mouth of the Glen between Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh and Ré na nDoirí. I refer to the first ambush of the War of Independence, where local volunteers engaged with the RIC in July 1918. That engagement is being marked locally.

The Minister would have known the timeline and that a review has been under way for almost a year. Why has the review taken so long and is it going to be brought to a conclusion quickly? Communities would like the review to be concluded and for direction to be provided to them in addition to an opportunity to apply for funding and also that the various criteria would be outlined. The review is under way for the best part of a year at this point, in the middle of what would have been a set timeframe, and should be brought to a conclusion soon. Does the Minister have a date for the conclusion of the review? Is she aware that the national commemoration for July almost clashes with the Mouth of the Glen commemoration in the same month?

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The previous Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, announced that the Department would re-establish the consultative group on commemorations following its success in the lead-up to the State's commemoration of the 1916 centenary. We need an all-party representation on the group to ensure a balanced perspective on what is a contentious period in our history. Nominations have been sought from all parties represented in the Oireachtas, including Independents, as well as representatives from the Northern Ireland Assembly. We want the consultative group to meet as soon as possible so as to ensure the best possible commemorations in the coming years.

One of the historical events we hope to commemorate appropriately is the founding of Dáil Éireann in 2019. The first meeting was on 21 January and it is one of the most significant historical events in the decade of centenaries and deserves to be commemorated accordingly. The Houses of the Oireachtas is advancing plans for a ceremonial event to mark that. Another period to commemorate is the struggle for independence from 1919 to 1921. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan mentioned the War of Independence, which is the name commonly used to describe the guerrilla warfare fought between the Irish Republican Army and the British security forces in Ireland, and we also have that centenary commemoration.

In relation to the clash mentioned by Deputy Moynihan, we cannot prescribe to local authorities on how they should commemorate events locally. It would be better if they consulted directly with the Department.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I gceann cúpla seachtain, ag tús mhí Iúil, beidh muintir Bhéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh agus muintir Mhúscraí ag ceiliúradh nó ag comóradh an chéad luíochán i gCogadh na Saoirse, a tharla i mBéal a' Ghleanna. Tá sé an-tábhachtach a leithéid a chomóradh. Beidh fáilte roimh an Aire má bhíonn sí ann.

It is very important that communities have the opportunity to do something and the resources to go ahead and make sure those significant events are commemorated. I understand the Minister is still conducting the review, that the committee has only met twice and that it does not have an outcome yet. When does the Minister expect the committee to conclude the review? Will it report directly to the Minister?

I acknowledge that local authorities are continuing to support the process but they need direction and a steer from national Government and the Minister should put in place a plan and not land State events on top of significant events such as the first ambush of the War of Independence at the Mouth of the Glen.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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As someone who has been a member of the all-party committee on commemorations since 2006 when it was first mooted by Bertie Ahern, I believe it is a good scheme and it needs to happen. Most of the ideas the State used came through that mechanism. The Minister is now running out of time.

Local authorities were brought on board late in the day for the 2016 commemorations and they delivered a lot better than was expected considering the very short notice. I appeal to the Minister to bring the consultation to a conclusion and to allocate the money in the budget in order that planning can go ahead.

One of the things that was also successful during 2016 was the national capital projects. They take a lot more planning than six months. We are running very close to An Chéad Dáil commemoration events and the election before that, but there are also key moments during the war and some planning is required so that we end up with some capital projects, some monumental events and have some monuments left behind. That cannot happen overnight.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I have consistently been asking the Minister questions about the all-party committee that was advising on the commemorations and she keeps giving the response that it will happen shortly and that she is waiting for nominations. The various groups were asked to make those nominations six or eight months ago, if not longer. Surely it is time to tell them that the train is leaving the station and it is fine if they want to jump on at this station at the beginning, and it is also fine if they want to join later, but they cannot hold up the entire process. They have had the chance. When will the committee meet, with or without those final nominations?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I understand that the Minister has a lot on her desk but the commemorations are really important at both a national and local level. They are not just about commemorating the actual first meeting of the Dáil. The local commemorations are really important. The Minister must offer support to having a national structure. What we had for the 1916 commemoration was very inclusive. It reflected communities and people were drawn from a wide range of organisations and none. The involvement by the Government was agreed by everybody in the House to be extremely successful. I share the concern that for some reason or other nothing much seems to be happening for the next series of commemorations. If the Minister allows a vacuum to develop then others may fill the vacuum in a way which will be far less inclusive than what we successfully achieved in 2016.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I accept all the points raised by the Deputies. I could not agree more. There has been some difficulty getting an all-party committee and getting all parties to nominate people to give their views on how to proceed.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Why not ask the spokespeople?

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I will just finish. However, I have indicated that the first sitting will be happening in the next couple of weeks, regardless, because we want it to be inclusive, as Deputy Burton mentioned. I am very conscious of the time. It is very important that we have a balanced representation on the committee. The aim of any commemoration is to broaden sympathies without having to abandon any loyalties and to make sure that we reflect everybody's perspective.

In relation to regional funding, I do expect that local authorities will have a key role in supporting engagement and facilitation in local communities and in developing appropriate commemorative initiatives as part of the decade of centenaries. That integration is going to be really vital for local communities and that everybody is involved. I will do my utmost to make sure that everything is as successful as it was for the 2016 commemoration.