I propose to take Questions Nos. 652 and 656 together.
The Ireland 2016 initiative, which I am leading, aims to develop, coordinate and deliver a programme to honour and remember those who fought and died in the 1916 Easter Rising. The Ireland 2016 initiative will reflect on the legacy of that period and look towards our future, based around 5 themes, as set out in the Government's framework plan:
- Remembering the past
- Reconciling and respecting all traditions
- Presenting Ireland to the world
- Imagining our future
- Celebrating our achievements.
The Ireland 2016 Project Team in my Department is currently engaged in an extensive consultation process across the Government, State agency and community sectors in order to progress the development of detailed plans for 2016. Meetings have taken place between the team and the various key Departments, agencies, local authorities and other interested parties and I am delighted at the level of interest and enthusiasm for the programme to date. I envisage that this formal consultation phase will be complete by end-February, but engagement will, of course, be ongoing with interested parties as the programme develops towards implementation.
In this regard, I have secured an amount of €4 million in current funding in the Revised Estimates for 2015 to support the development of an integrated plan – Ireland 2016 – focused on commemorating the centenary of the 1916 Rising. It is my intention to allocate this funding in a manner that will help to support a wide range of activities and events by interested groups, including local community groups, as well as the national cultural institutions, education, the Irish language and arts sectors. This funding is in addition to the capital provision of €22 million to be allocated in 2015 to a number of flagship commemorations projects.