John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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232. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on whether ten weeks’ notice for the town that’s hosting the National Day of Famine Remembrance is acceptable given the amount of preparation that must be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16372/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The National Famine Commemoration takes place on the third Sunday of May, or the preceding Saturday, following a 2018 Government decision to mark the Great Irish Famine with an annual State event of remembrance and reflection.

The commemoration, consisting of a community event and solemn State ceremony, takes place in each of the provinces of Ireland on a rotating basis. In September 2024, my Department through the Commemorations Unit wrote to the Chief Executives of every local authority in Munster requesting an Expression of Interest to host the event. The two Expressions of Interest received were circulated to the National Famine Commemoration Committee who are responsible for considering the most appropriate arrangements for the event.

On Wednesday, 05 February 2025, at the first committee meeting of the year there was a group discussion and there was a unanimous decision to recommend the Limerick City and County Council proposal.

I have passed on my thanks to the National Famine Commemoration Committee members who volunteer their time and expertise and was proud to become the Chair of this committee with the formation of this Government less than two weeks previously.

The hosting of the National Famine Commemoration is a collaborative process. Each year the host local authority is supported with their preparations by my Department and the relevant stakeholders who have considerable experience and expertise including Áras an Uachtaráin, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Office of Public Works, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence.

Plans are already well progressed for the 2025 Commemoration to ensure that it will be a fitting and appropriate event to honour the memory of all those who perished or suffered as a result of An Gorta Mór.