Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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29. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she and her Department expect to be in a position to assist and provide funding to various local bodies involved in 1916 commemorative events; the degree to which her Department has received requests in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16745/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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One of the core objectives of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, which was launched on 31 March, is to encourage and facilitate participation by the citizens of Ireland to the greatest extent possible in the programme of events to commemorate this significant centenary. The Community Participation programme strand will be led by local authorities across the country and I have allocated funding of €1 million to local authorities in 2015 to support this 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.

A series of public meetings is currently being 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 requested that local authorities consult widely with local interest groups and community organisations, historical societies, schools and youth organisations, other stakeholders and members of the authority in relation to the selection of initiatives and development of county plans. Each county is expected to publish their plans in October 2015.

In addition, the GAA will participate in commemorations of the 1916 Easter Rising through its network of clubs across the island of Ireland. The Heritage Council will also co-ordinate an inclusive community-based Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme.

My Department has received almost 150 proposals and submissions to date, including a number of requests from groups in local communities across the country. I very much welcome and appreciate all submissions, proposals and ideas received. My Department’s 2016 Commemoration Project Office is currently working its way through all of the correspondence received to determine what may be achievable within the timeframe and resources available and is alerting the relevant local authorities to proposals in their own areas.