Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has, as part of the Famine commemoration or otherwise, plans to introduce a programme of supports to restore and maintain famine graveyards, improve access to Famine graveyards or develop Famine graveyards as commemorative sites open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8712/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that, as Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, I am responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place to commemorate the Great Famine with an annual Memorial Day.

The Committee has agreed four main points for this year's commemoration:

The national event will take place in Skibbereen, Co. Cork, on May 17th;

A parallel international event will be held in Canada on May 10th;

Communities around the country should be encouraged to hold their own local events to commemorate the Great Famine; and

All public and sporting events should observe a minute's silence on the National Famine Memorial Day.

In relation to the Deputy's specific query regarding the restoration, maintenance and development of Famine graveyards, the direct funding of such activity is not a matter for my Department. I should add, however, that under the Rural Social Scheme, which is funded by my Department, it has been possible for minor maintenance works to be carried out by communities in their local graveyards.