David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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59. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the implementation of the Ireland 2016 centenary programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43544/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, which was launched on 31 March last, includes a rich diversity of programmes and events, complementary and additional to the formal State occasions, which will run throughout 2016 to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. The Programme is 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.Officials of my Department have facilitated an intensive consultation period over the last few months, including active engagement with schools, universities, colleges, business and voluntary organisations, arts and culture institutions, historical societies, local authorities and representative groups – at home and in our Diaspora around the world – to inform, to stimulate debate and discussion about 2016, and to foster programme initiatives. Work has been ongoing to implement a comprehensive programme and planning is well underway for the range of initiatives within the seven programme strands.

Among the key milestones achieved to date are the following:

- I was delighted to host the first of the State ceremonial events of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme on 1August last to commemorate the funeral of O'Donovan Rossa in Glasnevin Cemetery, in the presence of President Michael D Higgins and An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, T.D.

- Over 84 public consultation meetings were held with local communities all around the country. 31 individual county plans were launched on 8October last containing over 1,800 events across the country. €1m was allocated to facilitate these plans this year, with a further €3m to be made available next year.

- An allocation of €22 million in capital funding is being provided through my Department’s Vote in 2015 for the ‘Permanent Reminder’ projects, with a further €31m being provided next year. These capital projects are progressing well.

- The Global and Diaspora Programme was launched on 29June and was very positively received at home and abroad.

- On 6August, the Arts Council announced 9 major arts projects to commemorate 1916.

- The National Flag Initiative was launched on 14September, marking the commencement of the delivery by the Defence Forces of our National Flag and the Proclamation to over 3,300 national schools across the country. Well over 2,000 flags have now been delivered and the project has been very well received.

- The Irish Language strand - An Teanga Bheo- was launched at the end of October by An Taoiseach.

- The Education Programme strand was launched on 22 September for the primary, post-primary and third-level education sectors.

- Consultation is ongoing with relevant stakeholders in Northern Ireland, including official, political, media, artistic and NGO stakeholders.

- The National Cultural Institutions are planning a range of innovative exhibitions and projects and all are progressing well. The National Library launched its 2016 plans just yesterday.

- The official Culture Ireland programme “I am Ireland” was launched by Minister of State Ó Ríordáin on 3October. This will showcase the best of Irish arts and culture on the international stage.

- On 10 November, I announced that work was to start on the development of the new Commemorative Centre at the National Monument in Moore Street, which was acquired by the State earlier in the year.

Further information in relation to the various events, activities and initiatives taking place under each of 7 strands of the Programme, including the 31 county plans launched in October, can be found on my Department’s dedicated website at .

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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60. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the financial supports she will provide to local authorities to make the over 2,000 community events and initiatives that have been confirmed for 2016 as part of the local authority-led county plans a reality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43541/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the Community Participation strand of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, some 84 public consultations, facilitated by the local authorities with support from my Department, have taken place nationwide. Each of the local authorities has developed a rich and diverse series of events and projects that will take place next year. I was very pleased to participate with An Taoiseach and other Government colleagues at the official launch on 8 October last of the 31 individual county plans arising from this process.My Department provided €1m this year to assist local authorities in preparing for their local commemorative programmes and I recently announced a further funding package of €3m for all local authorities in 2016 in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and IPB Insurance. This will be distributed equally across each local authority and will allow communities to fully engage with next year’s centenary.

The local authorities are now in the process of organising individual launches of their county plans, which include a wide variety of events, lectures and opportunities for the public to get involved with the centenary programme.

With funding also being provided to support a range of events across the 7 strands of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, I am satisfied that all citizens will be able to participate in this major commemoration next year.

Further information in relation to the various events, activities and initiatives taking place under each of the programme strands, including the 31 county plans launched in October, can be found on my Department’s dedicated website at .