Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 February 2022
330. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if grant funding is available through her Department that would assist in the purchase of replica uniforms for a community-based historical re-enactment society; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7803/22]
View answerMy role as Minister with responsibility for leading the coordination of the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 Programme 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.
On 5th January, I announced a funding package of €2 million for local authorities in 2022 under the Community Strand of the Decade of Centenaries Programme, to support their leading role in developing community-led commemorative activities.
The first point of contact for inquiries of the nature mentioned by the Deputy would be the Decade of Centenaries Co-ordinator in the relevant local authority.
I must advise, however that, in accordance with the comprehensive guidance provided by my Department to local authorities, generally the hiring or purchase of replica weapons or uniforms and military re-enactments are not supported under my Department's funding allocation.
However, it is, of course, within the discretion of individual local authorities to provide support from within their own resources to local communities who wish to purchase or hire replica uniforms, where this is deemed the appropriate approach.
It is anticipated that local authorities may receive a number of requests from commemorative committees and community groups seeking similar support for specific events as we navigate through the sensitive forthcoming period of commemorations. While we recognise that these incidents and actions are undoubtedly of great local significance in the narrative of the part played by individual counties during the Struggle for Independence and Civil War, this is just one element within the Community Strand of the overall Decade of Centenaries Programme. The guidance of the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) on Centenary Commemorations advises that local commemorative endeavours could helpfully focus on acknowledging the significance of the event or action, rather than on the individual personalities involved, which would be a matter for personal commemoration and personal remembrance.
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 hiring or purchase of replica weapons or uniforms and military re-enactments, are not, however, eligible for funding under the Community Strand of the Decade of Centenaries Programme from my Department.
