Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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553. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the provision that has been made for the commemoration of the 182 persons from the Ballina area of County Mayo who served with the allied forces, and were killed during World War 1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19764/15]

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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554. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the provision there are in the Government's plans for commemorative events, monuments and other tributes, at local level, to the Irish men and women who died in World War 1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19765/15]

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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555. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the events and activities that have been undertaken by her Department to commemorate Irish men and women who served with the Allied forces during World War 1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19766/15]

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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556. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of money that has been allocated and spent for the commemoration of Irish men and women who served with the Allied forces during World War 1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19767/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 553 to 556, inclusive, together.

My Department continues to assist with and support a range of commemorative events and initiatives to remember the Irish men and women who served during World War 1. The Government has been represented at many national and international events since the centenary of the outbreak of the War in August 2014. Many of these events and activities are detailed in the website supported by my Department.

Some highlights in 2014 included the following:

- The dedication jointly by President Higgins and the Duke of Kent of the Cross of Sacrifice in Glasnevin Cemetery in July 2014. This was a welcome addition to the comprehensive and inclusive representation of Irish history in Glasnevin and was brought forward in partnership between Glasnevin Trust and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

- Government representation at war memorial ceremonies in Northern Ireland on Armistice Day and at the anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July.

- Government representation, alongside the representatives of the British Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, at the annual commemorations on the Somme – a sequence of engagements which acknowledge our shared heritage.

- A National Museum of Ireland conference at Collins Barracks on 1 February 2014 on Remembering World War One in Europe, 1914-2014.

- A National Gallery of Ireland programme of events commencing on 1 March 2014 with a Study Day on War Artists, followed on 2 March 2014 by a consideration ofWar Poetry and Images of the First World War.

- A National Library of Ireland exhibition on World War 1, entitled World War Ireland: Exploring the Irish Experience.

With regard to 2015, my Department supported a very successful dramatisation of the Gallipoli experience, entitled PALS, which was presented at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks to popular acclaim over a 3 month period in early 2015.

On 25-26 April, a series of events related to the 100 anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign were initiated in association with the Australian Embassy and the New Zealand Ireland Association. At Glasnevin Cemetery, 8 recipients of the Victoria Cross (VC) were honoured, with participation from British, Australian and New Zealand diplomatic corps, as well as veterans of the British Legion and a descendent of one VC recipient from the Royal Munster Fusiliers. This presentation followed similar ceremonies in 2014/15 in respect of earlier VC recipients.

History Ireland has organised a “hedge school” in the National Library supported by my Department.

My Department also provided financial support to the local authorities in Cork towards the recent substantial programme of events arranged to commemorate the 100 anniversary of the sinking of the Lusitania.

For more local events, my Department seeks to provide advice and guidance to local communities. Local authorities can also help with practical advice and assistance. My Department does not generally fund local memorials.

In terms of overall expenditure by my Department for activities relating to the Decade of Centenaries, including Word War 1, a sum of the order of €300,000 was provided in 2014. A budget of the order of €350,000 is envisaged in respect of 2015. These sums would include the supports from my Department for the Decade of Centenaries website at and the Century Ireland website at , which deal with all aspects of the period in question.