Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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167. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which the regions will participate in the 1916 commemorations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10718/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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One of the core objectives of the Ireland 2016initiative is to encourage and facilitate participation by, and the inclusion of, the citizens of Ireland to the greatest extent possible in the programme of events to commemorate this significant centenary.

In order to facilitate engagement with local communities and people of all ages nationwide, I have met with the County and Cities Management Association and have requested each local authority Chief Executive Officer to lead on the development of local-level plans for Ireland 2016in their individual counties during 2015. Dedicated Ireland 2016co-ordinators and steering groups have been put in place in each local authority to help to shape and drive the relevant county programmes. I recently met with Cathaoirligh and Mayors from all counties and cities, as well as the Ireland 2016 co-ordinators, to kick start this process. A series of public meetings will now be undertaken in each county, at which members of the public can come together to hear about Ireland 2016,meet those involved in their community, and to explore and learn about how they can get involved. I have allocated funding of €1 million to local authorities in 2015 to support this overall process.

The purpose of this funding allocation is to

- support engagement and facilitation within local communities to generate awareness of the Ireland 2016initiative and the commemoration of the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising; and

- support each local authority in developing and delivering a plan for a suitable programme of events and initiatives to take place at a county level in line with the national plans for Ireland 2016.

Local authorities will be notified of individual allocations in the coming weeks.