Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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402. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funds that will be made available to local authorities and community projects to participate and initiate 1916 centenary events; the amount that will be available; the date on which it will become available; the procedure to apply for the funding; and who will administer same. [25886/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 9, 17 and 23 of 11 June last when I outlined the Government's capital funding priorities in respect of 1916 commemoration projects. I also explained that the possibility of funding of events and projects at community and local authority level will fall to be examined as part of future budgetary discussions. While I expressed a positive view of the benefits of the availability of funds to local communities, I should stress that there is no formal scheme for funding available from my Department at this time for such projects.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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403. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the contact he and his Department have had with his Northern Ireland Assembly counterpart, Minister Carál Ní Chuilín, to discuss expanding the planned 1916 centenary events to ensure they are all Ireland in nature; if he intends to have further meetings in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25887/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I am very pleased to record my appreciation of the ongoing constructive relationship which we enjoy in respect of cross border issues. Minister Ni Chuilín and I meet on a regular basis to discuss topics of mutual interest. Officials from our respective Departments also maintain channels of contact.

As the Deputy is aware, we are following the historic timeline in relation to the programming of commemorative events. Our interest is also to ensure that commemorative arrangements are inclusive, authentic and proportionate. I intend to continue with this approach, in relation to the 1916 element of the programme.

A recent meeting of the All Party Oireachtas Group on Commemorations expressed the interest that Minister Ni Chuilín might soon attend a meeting of this group, a suggestion which I will be pursuing.