Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019
1220. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to promote the importance of a person (details supplied); if funding will be made available locally to acknowledge his or her life; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1356/19]
View answerLast week I published the guidance of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations, which sets out a series of principles on which the remainder of the decade of centenaries might be approached (available here: https://www.chg.gov.ie/app/uploads/2019/01/guidance-from-the-expert-advisory-group-on-commemorations-over-the-remainder-of-the-decade-of-centenaries-eng-1.pdf).
There is a particular focus on the role of Local Authorities and communities in the Guidance, and Local authorities will continue to have a key role in developing appropriate commemorative initiatives over the remainder of the Decade of Centenaries and in supporting meaningful, respectful and authentic engagement by local communities.
In 2018, I approved a funding allocation of €5,000 for each local authority under the Decade of Centenaries programme to support the development of inclusive, appropriate and citizen-focused initiatives to encourage people of all ages to explore significant aspects of the political historical social and cultural context of the period. Funding allocations for local authorities in 2019 will be announced shortly.
While my Department has no specific plans to commemorate the life and legacy of the person to whom the Deputy refers, it is open to the relevant local authority - in this case Sligo County Council - to consider an appropriate commemorative initiative.
