Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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80. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if funding will be provided to sporting clubs to host commemorative tournaments and events given the significance of the Decade of Centenaries and the opportunity this presents to educate young persons. [33252/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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On 27th April, the Government announced plans for the final phase of the Decade of Centenaries programme and, in particular, plans for 2021.  The commemorative programme is led and co-ordinated by my Department but has significant input from various partners, including National Cultural Institutions, institutions of learning, local authorities and community organisations, custodians of records, and creative communities, among others. 

I can advise the Deputy that although there is no dedicated funding stream to support commemorative initiatives led by sporting clubs, there are many opportunities within the programme for community-led engagement, particularly with young people, potentially including commemorative sporting initiatives of the sort mentioned by the Deputy.

For this final phase of the Decade of Centenaries, the Expert Advisory Group has advocated a three-tier approach, comprising a small number of State-led commemorations, augmented by local authority and community-led commemorative initiatives.  This approach recognises the need for us all to lean into the expertise and experience of our local authorities in supporting and driving community-led commemoration, supported with appropriate State recognition and participation.  This measured and balanced approach has proven to work very well in complex and sensitive local contexts where the distressing events of 100 years ago are remembered respectfully within their communities. 

In December, I announced a funding allocation of €50,000 for every local authority to support the development of community-led commemorative activities.  If a local sporting organisation would like to develop a specific commemorative initiative, I would encourage them to contact the Decade of Centenaries co-ordinator in their local authority to discuss their ideas and proposals further.  The relevant contact details can be found on the Decade of Centenaries web-site