Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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100. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which her Department continues to prepare for the commemorative events of 1916 in a way which marks the events, locations and prominent personalities involved and recognises the ongoing future need for an inclusive and united society as envisaged by the 1916 proclamation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46817/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The commemorations to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising will be a major event in a programme that has been developing since 2012 to commemorate the key events leading to the proclamation of the Irish Republic.Capital provision of €22 million will be allocated in 2015 to a number of flagship projects, including:

- the development of a permanent exhibition space and interpretative centre at the GPO;

- the restoration of Kilmainham Courthouse to enhance the visitor experience at Kilmainham Gaol;

- the provision of a permanent visitor facility at Cathal Brugha Barracks for the Military Service Pensions Archive;

- the development of visitor facilities at Teach an Phiarsaigh, Ros Muc;

- refurbishment works at Richmond Barracks;

- the development of a Tenement Museum in Dublin; and

- the commencement of refurbishment and development works at the National Archives and the National Concert Hall's Kevin Barry rooms.

I have also secured an allocation of €4m in current funding, which will complement the capital programme through the development of an integrated national plan focused on the commemoration of the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. This allocation will support a wide range of activities and events by interested groups, including local community groups and the arts. There will also be a special emphasis on education projects, as recommended by the Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations.

A widespread public consultation process is now underway in order to encourage and facilitate the involvement of ground-up initiatives in the wider commemorative programme. I look forward to working with the Oireachtas All-Party Consultation Group on Commemorations, the Expert Advisory Group and a wide range of stakeholders over the coming 18 months to make the events of Easter 2016 a very special and poignant tribute to all those involved.