Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2021
307. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the allocation made to each local authority in 2020 and 2021 for commemorating the Decade of Commemorations; the amount drawn down by each local authority in 2020 and to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54486/21]
View answerMy role, as Minister with responsibility for leading the co-ordination of the Decade of Centenaries Programme, is to help ensure that the challenging events of this important and formative period in our history (1912-1923) and associated themes, are meaningfully, proportionately and sensitively remembered.
I approved an overall funding allocation of €900,000 for local authorities in 2020 which consisted of an allocation of €10,000 per local authority and additional funding where required for a number of other local authorities where specific requests were made to the Department. The main focus of the 2020 State Commemorative programme was in Cork City and County given the key centenaries associated with Cork last year and significant additional funding was allocated for these programmes. Challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in Cork County Council having to postpone many of their programme elements and being unable to draw down commemorative programme funding of €88,000 from the full allocation in 2020. This funding was brought forward, on a once off basis given the unprecedented situation COVID-19 presented, and formed part of the 2021 Cork County Council allocation. This was to allow them to fulfil their programme commitments which the local community were keen to progress.
€1.94 million for local authorities was approved in 2021 under the Community Strand of the Programme, to support their leading role in developing community-led, commemorative activities this year including cross-border commemorative initiatives. The allocation in 2021 provides for funding of €50,000 for each local authority (up significantly from the €10,000 allocation to each authority in 2020) and a supplementary fund to support local authorities who identified additional, specific requirements.
My intention is to maintain the funding allocation of €50,000 for each local authority into 2022. Further announcements in this regard will be made when the arrangements are confirmed.
Under the Community Strand, my Department recognises that each local authority is best placed to determine what is appropriate for their local area, in light of local history and expertise, and to make decisions concerning initiatives to be supported from their funding allocation. My Department advises, however, that all initiatives should be aligned with the principles and guidance of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations, and has provided comprehensive guidance for the allocation of funding, to assist local authorities. There is scope for a rich diversity of interesting and engaging commemorative initiatives to be curated from within the annual funding allocation from my Department to each of the local authorities.
The table below outlines the final allocation from my Department and corresponding drawdown of that funding allocation by each local authority in 2020, the initial allocation in 2021 and the amount drawn down by each authority to date this year. It should be noted that the drawdown of this funding typically takes place in November each year and many have yet to submit their drawdown requests. We are confident, however, that the majority of local authorities will drawdown their funding in a timely manner.
Community Strand of the Decade of Centenaries Programme
2020 and 2021 Funding Allocations to Local Authorities and related Drawdown
