Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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657. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the studies available within her Department to identify Famine graves as they are dispersed across the country; if a register of these graves exists; if local authorities maintain any records in relation to Famine graves; her plans to mark any as yet unmarked Famine plots; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4594/15]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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658. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will designate a specific day, for example the second Sunday of May, in each year as the national Famine commemoration day; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4595/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 657 and 658 together.

As Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, I am responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place to commemorate the Great Irish Famine. While there has been a degree of continuity in the format and scheduling of the National Famine Commemoration ceremony, the date of the ceremony, as well as the artistic and cultural elements, may change from year to year. In 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014, it proved possible to schedule the Commemoration on the second Sunday in May. However, it has not been considered desirable to fix the same date each year, given the circumstances that may arise regarding the arrangements, including the choice of site and the availability of the lead person to officiate at the ceremony in any particular year.

With regard to famine graves, consideration is being given to arrangements to identify such graves and to place plaques at sites that have significant links to the Great Irish Famine, including unmarked graves, as well as docklands and workhouse sites. An authentication and verification process would be required to ensure that only nominated sites with authentic links to that period of history are marked. This will include consultation with local authorities but, of course, any records held by local authorities would be a matter for the authorities themselves.