Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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179. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the up-to-date position regarding the erection of a State monument in honour of a person (details supplied); if he will provide details of the most recent correspondence within Government in relation to this project; if there is a delay with the project; if so, the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25652/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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My role as Minister with responsibility for leading the coordination of the Decade of Centenaries Programme 2012-2023 is to help ensure that the challenging events of this important and formative period in our history and related themes, are meaningfully, proportionately and sensitively remembered. The Government's approach to commemorations continues to be underpinned by the guidance of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations (EAG) and consultation with the All-Party Consultation Group on Commemorations.

I have allocated almost €2m in funding for local authorities in 2022 under the Programme, to support their leading role in developing community-led commemorative activities during this final phase of the Decade of Centenaries.

I am aware that Cork County Council and other stakeholders are currently developing a programme of events to commemorate the person referenced by the Deputy and a proposal for funding for this programme is currently under active consideration.

While the provision or maintenance of memorials, erection of monuments, plaques, busts or statues and the production of commemorative medals or pins are not at present supported under my Department's funding allocation to the Decade of Centenaries Programme 2012-2023, along with the Departments of the Taoiseach and Defence, I have made an allocation to Cork County Council for 2022 to assist with works to improve access and safety at the Memorial at Béal na Bláth in Cork. My understanding is that these works will be completed in the coming months and in good time for the centenary commemoration of the event there in August 1922.

I note also that there is already a statue in Merrion Square in Dublin and other statues in Cork dedicated to the person referenced by the Deputy.