Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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30. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on Ireland 2016, the Government initiative to commemorate and celebrate the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising; in particular, if she will provide an update on the community participation element Ireland 2016; when she anticipates local community plans will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23557/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s Ireland 2016Centenary Programme was launched in the National Museum, Collins Barracks, on 31^stMarch 2015 and is well underway. The programme is underpinned by five intersecting and overlapping themes; Remembering, Reconciling, Presenting, Imaginingand Celebrating. These are intended to give people scope to think about the events of 1916 and its legacy in a way that is personal and meaningful to each individual. I am committed, together with my Government colleagues, to ensuring that the commemorations to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising will be inclusive, appropriate and respectful.

The programme will be an invitation to everyone on the island of Ireland and to the global Irish community to shape and engage in a diverse range of historical, cultural and artistic activities – all designed to facilitate reflection, commemoration, celebration, debate and analysis and an active imagining of our future. The programme comprises seven strands; State Ceremonial; Historical Reflection; An Teanga Bheo; Youth and Imagination; Cultural Expression; Community Participation; and Global and Diaspora. Further details in relation to the programme strands and the full range of varied events, initiatives and activities outlined in the Ireland 2016Centenary Programme, can be found on the website .

One of the core objectives of the Ireland 2016Centenary Programme is to encourage and facilitate participation by, and the inclusion of, the citizens of Ireland to the greatest extent possible. Under the Community Participationstrand of the programme, my Department’s 2016 Project Team has been working with local authorities and local steering committees to maximise engagement with and participation by members of the public, young people, community organisations, historical societies, artists, writersand other interested parties within their areas to determine how they would like to see this significant centenary commemorated.

The Community Participationstrand of the programme is being led by local authorities across the country and I have been working closely with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, T.D., in this regard. A widespread public consultation process has been underway for a number of months now in order to encourage and facilitate the involvement of national and local, ground-up, initiatives in the wider commemorative programme. Each local authority has appointed a steering committee and a dedicated ‘Ireland 2016Centenary Programme’ co-ordinator, to support engagement and facilitation within local communities. This is intended to generate awareness of the national programme; and to develop and deliver a plan for a suitable programme of events and initiatives to take place at a county level in line with the national plan for Ireland 2016. Local authorities have been requested to submit their draft plans by end-June and they will then receive their funding allocations for 2015. It is anticipated that the finalised plans will be submitted in October 2015.

I believe that the work of the local authorities will be central to the commemorations programme for 2016. The response from the local authorities to date has been extremely encouraging and I very much appreciate the energy and enthusiasm with which the local authorities and local communities have been engaging in this process.

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

Full details of community initiatives will be available on as plans and initiatives are finalised.