Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Ceist:1. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a built heritage jobs leverage scheme will operate in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10554/15]
Priority Questions
Heritage Schemes
This question relates to the built heritage jobs leverage scheme. It was one of the good ideas initiated by the last Government, a Government which was perhaps not awash with good ideas. The €5 million put up by the Government secured private investment of €10 million for 540 projects across the country, employing 175 people. What are the prospects for this scheme in 2015?
In 2014, my Department was provided with a special allocation of €5 million from capital stimulus funding for a new built heritage jobs leverage scheme to assist with works to safeguard structures, in private and civic ownership, protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.
This scheme was administered directly through the local authorities and sought to encourage the investment of private capital in a number of small-scale, labour-intensive projects to repair and conserve historic structures and to support the employment of skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craft workers and tradespeople.
My Department's allocation of €5 million leveraged a further €10 million in private funding, leading to a total of €15 million being invested in 540 historic structures across the country. Information provided by the local authorities indicates that 175 jobs were created as a result of this scheme.
The operation of a similar scheme in the future would be contingent on dedicated funding being made available to my Department. It is a good idea and I very much support the work being done.
Implicit in the answer is that there will be no scheme in 2015, which is very regrettable and represents a failure on the part of the Minister's Department. I urge the Minister to go back to the Minister for Public Expenditure on Reform to secure the funding involved. As she quite rightly said, a fairly small figure of €5 million unleashed €10 million in private investment, which is badly needed and which delivered worthwhile jobs while allowing us to maintain the fabric of the built heritage of this country. It is very important the built heritage is retained.
All of us in this House see buildings of historic importance across the length and breadth of this country crumbling before our eyes. The thatched cottage is a uniquely Irish phenomenon but I see those cottages falling into decay because their owners cannot afford their upkeep.
As the Deputy said, the built heritage jobs leverage scheme was a great success, which is reflected in the statistics. The Deputy is right that Ireland's heritage and its buildings are a vital part of our villages and are towns. The Heritage Council has done great work over the years in engaging with communities. There is a much greater awareness now of the importance of heritage. Community groups across the country are getting involved and want to everything they can to protect what is very special in their areas in terms of heritage.
I am very supportive of this scheme and, as I outlined in my response, the operation of a similar scheme in the future would be contingent on dedicated funding be made available to my Department. This was a one-off stimulus scheme last year which helped to ensure the skills of stonemasons and the skills required to maintain heritage buildings are protected and passed on. I very much support scheme and, as the economy improves, I will make the case for more funding for heritage, in particular for this scheme.
We are told the economy is improving and now is the time to secure multi-annual funding. The Minister would have the support of everyone on this side of House in going back to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to demand this money. The money about which were talking, in terms of public investment, is very small but the money it can leverage from the private sector is very significant. It has been demonstrated that jobs can be created. The importance of the built heritage is beyond question and we know that many elements of that built heritage are crumbling before our eyes, so investment is needed.
The Minister referred the Heritage Council, which I salute and which is doing a tremendous job. What is outstanding about the work it is doing is the way in which it engages communities. It is actively involved in a meaningful way in convincing communities that they need to take ownership of the valuable heritage resources they have. However, it is starved of cash and it needs investment also.
I agree with the Deputy that the Heritage Council does a great job. Since I took office, I have met all the heritage officers throughout the country because they also do a great job with the local authorities. I must acknowledge the work local authorities have done in regard to the built heritage jobs leverage scheme. A number of different organisations came together.
The Heritage Council was awarded €4.7 million in funding in the 2015 Estimates. The built heritage jobs leverage scheme is a good scheme, which I fully support, and I will not be found wanting when it comes to looking for money for it.
Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:2. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé i gceist aici na moltaí ar fad atá déanta sa tuarascáil ón bhFochoiste Oireachtais um an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge, a chur san áireamh agus Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) á dhréachtadh agus á thabhairt os comhair na dTithe agus cathain a bheartaítear é sin a dhéanamh; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [10247/15]
Baineann an cheist seo leis an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge agus an tuairisc a dhein an comhchoiste maidir leis sin. Cén uair atá an tAire chun na tograí agus na moltaí a leag an coiste amach a chur i bhfeidhm?
I gcomhréir leis an ngealltanas a tugadh i gclár an Rialtais, rinne mo Roinn athbhreithniú ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003. Ag eascairt as an athbhreithniú sin, thóg an Rialtas cinneadh anuraidh Bille a dhréachtú chun leasuithe a dhéanamh ar an Acht Teanga. Is í an phríomhaidhm atá ag an mBille seo ná an tAcht a leasú chun a chinntiú go leanfaidh sé de bheith ina thacaíocht éifeachtach do gach duine ar mian leis nó léi seirbhísí d’ardchaighdeán i nGaeilge a fháil ón Stát. Tá Ceannteidil an Bhille foilsithe ar shuíomh gréasáin mo Roinne, www.ahg.gov.ie.
I gcomhréir le polasaí an Rialtais, cuireadh ceannteidil an Bhille faoi bhráid an Chomhchoiste um Chomhshaol, Chultúr agus an Ghaeltacht. Bhí éisteachtaí ag an bhFochoiste um an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge maidir leis na ceannteidil i mí na Bealtaine seo caite. Foilsíodh tuarascáil an chomhchoiste maidir leis na ceannteidil ar an 24 Feabhra agus tá na moltaí atá inti á meas agam faoi láthair.
Tuigim nach bhfuil deis ag an Aire Stáit déileáil leis na moltaí ar fad nó iad a mheas go hiomlán go fóill, ach tá an straitéis 20 bliain ann le cúpla bliain anuas. Tá an staidéar ar a bhfuil sé bunaithe ann chomh maith, an staidéar cuimsitheach teangeolaíochta. Foilsíodh an staidéar sin in 2007 agus sa bhliain sin dúradar nach raibh ach 20 bliain fágtha sula mbeadh an Ghaeilge mar theanga labhartha i mbaol bháis sa Ghaeltacht. Bhí deifear nó práinn i gceist maidir leis an Ghaeilge a shábháil i 2007. Anois, tá 2015 sroichte againn agus don chuid is mó den phobal, níl aon athrú mór tagtha ar an scéal, seachas go bhfuil tuairisc i ndiaidh tuairisce fós á déanamh. Níl aon ghníomh ceart déanta.
Seachas maolú a chur ar fhoráileacha Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla mar atá i gceist, an aontaíonn an tAire Stáit liom gur cóir iad a láidriú, ionas nach bhfeicfimid Coimisinéir Teanga eile ag fágáil an phoist sin i lár a thréimhse?
Tá cúpla pointe ansin. Maidir leis an straitéis 20 bliain, bunaíodh an straitéis sin in 2010 agus tá sí anois cúig bliana d'aois. Tá agus bhí mórán oibre ar siúl ar son na Gaeilge thar an cúig bliana sin agus ní inniu nó inné a tháinig na scéalta dearfacha aníos. Tá grúpaí ar nós Conradh na Gaeilge, Gael Linn agus Gael Uladh ag obair go dian tríd an straitéis 20 bliain. Mar atá a fhios ag an Teachta, achtaíodh Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla i 2003. Má théann sé amach ar na sráideanna i mBaile Átha Cliath nó ina cheantar féin, feicfidh sé go bhfuil an t-infreastruchtúr ann, ar nós na comharthaí bóithre mar shampla. Tá a lán ar siúl, ach aontaím leis an Teachta gurb í an straitéis an rud is tábhachtaí.
Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le baill an fhochoiste agus don Seanadóir Labhrás Ó Murchú, Cathaoirleach an fhochoiste, as an sár obair atá déanta ag an bhfochoiste. Maidir leis na moltaí, tá siad á meas agam faoi láthair.
Tuigim an méid atá ráite ag an Aire Stáit agus aontaím leis ar bhealach amháin. Ach sa deireadh thiar thall, nach bhfuil sé níos tábhachtaí an straitéis a chur i bhfeidhm, seachas a bheith ag caint fúithi? Táimid de shíor ag caint faoi seo. Tá an t-am ag imeacht agus tá an Ghaeilge, sna Gaeltachtaí agus lasmuigh díobh, ag dul in éag. Cén uair a mbeidh toradh ar an strachfhéachaint atá á dhéanamh ag an Aire Stáit ar na moltaí sin? Cén uair an bhfeicfimid straitéis nua agus an mbeidh spriocdátaí leis na moltaí nuair a ghlacann an tAire Stáit leo?
Níl spriocdáta agam mar tá na moltaí fós á meas agam. Tá na moltaí aontaithe agus dearfach ach tá a lán acu ann. Is é mo bharúil go ndearbhóidh muid cuid de na moltaí a bhí ar chlár an fhochoiste. Sin atá ar intinn agam agus tá m'oifigigh ag obair go dian orthu.
Chomh maith le sin, bhí mé i dteagmháil le dreamanna eile ar nós, mar a luaigh mé níos luaithe, Conradh na Gaeilge. Bhí mé i dteagmháil leis an gCoimisinéir Teanga fosta. Tá a fhios agam agus ag an Teachta go bhfuil an coimisinéir neamhspleách ón Rialtas. Bhí comhrá maith agam leis agus tá moltaí aige fosta. Táim ag staidéar achan moladh atá ar an mbord agam anois, ó na dreamanna éagsúla, ón gcoimisinéir agus ón bhfochoiste.
Tá mórán oibre ar siúl ar an straitéis 20 bliain. Mar shampla, tá Foras na Gaeilge freagrach as an gceantar taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht agus as an obair Thuaidh-Theas. Tá Údarás na Gaeltachta freagrach as na limistéir pleanála agus tá neart oibre eile ar siúl ar an dtalamh. Ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt do na daoine atá ag obair ar son na teanga.
Inland Waterways Development
Maureen O'Sullivan
Ceist:3. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will encourage a more visual and widespread use of the Royal Canal, support training for boat owners on the way to use the locks, and an extension of mooring between the area of Cross Guns and the basin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9924/15]
My question is on the Royal Canal. It seeks to understand how the Minister and her Department could encourage more visual and widespread use of the canal. Could there be some training for boat owners to manage some of the locks and extended mooring between the area of Cross Guns Bridge and the basin?
Waterways Ireland is responsible for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of the inland navigable waterway system throughout the island, principally for recreational purposes. As a North–South implementation body, it is under the joint remit of my Department and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland. The Royal Canal is one of the waterways for which Waterways Ireland has responsibility.
I have been assured by Waterways Ireland that it is continually promoting and developing all its waterways, including the Royal Canal, as navigational, recreational and tourist attractions. It is also working closely with the tourism bodies and local authorities in developing the recreational and tourism potential of the waterways. In the case of the Royal Canal, Waterways Ireland is working closely with Fáilte Ireland, the National Roads Authority and a number of local authorities in developing a multi-activity recreational and tourism offering, utilising the existing towpath and waterway infrastructure.
The Deputy referred to training. While Waterways Ireland does not provide training for boat owners, it does provide guidance in the form of guide books, which clearly explain the operation of the locks. Historically, boat handling training and lock operation training were provided by the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland.
I understand that Waterways Ireland currently has no proposals to install additional moorings between Spencer Dock and Cross Guns Bridge due to the lack of uptake to date at the other locations available for extended mooring on the Royal Canal.
Anybody who has been to cities such as Amsterdam and Bruges will have a very good idea of the potential for tourism and living on the canals. Despite what the Minister says, Waterways Ireland is very far removed from that sort of activity on the canals. The Grand Canal has a little more such activity than the Royal Canal. Given the lack of activity on the latter, it is the poor relation.
It was very interesting to meet boat owners. A couple I met can bring their boat from Belturbet along the River Shannon and the Royal Canal into Dublin. They go through Phibsborough via Cross Guns Bridge and into the basin, and they can go back around by the Grand Canal.
I listened to what the Minister said about the answer from Waterways Ireland. It seems it is talking to everybody except those who are actually using the canals. It is missing out on vast potential for the boat owners who use the canal. I want to see the canals being used much more.
An issue arises over access to power, and issues can arise over water.
There is also an issue about the extended mooring permits. If nothing else comes from today, I ask the Minister to go back to Waterways Ireland to ask it to engage with the boat owners.
I agree absolutely with the Deputy on the potential for tourism on the waterways. It is only two weeks ago that I was able to announce the start of work on another section of the Ulster Canal. It will move now from Belturbet to Castle Saunderson, which is the first part of the route that will go to Clones. Eventually, I hope the route will go the whole way to Lough Neagh, which would bring the whole waterways system together. There is significant potential for tourism. Waterways Ireland has done a great deal of work on the blue ways. Recently, I was in County Leitrim where a new tow path has been developed as a walking route. There is a great opportunity there for tourism in terms of young people being out. That was the good thing about the extension of the Ulster Canal which will go to the scouting centre in Castle Saunderson. It will bring a whole new dimension to the international scouting centre for young people to engage in water-based activities.
I take the Deputy's point about the need to talk to boat owners and users and I will bring it back to Waterways Ireland to ask if it can engage. I am sure it has been talking to many boat owners, but I will go back again and ask it to set up a line of communication so that boat owners can engage with Waterways Ireland. As the Deputy rightly says, we have a tremendous asset and we must build on it.
That is very important. From speaking to some of the boat owners, it appears there is an issue with the extended mooring permits. If they are for 12 months, the boat will stay in the one place, whereas if they were for shorter periods and the boats had to move, it would create more activity. The Minister referred to tow paths and it is great that they have been opened up, but the tow path from Croke Park to Phibsorough has been closed for nine months now. It has been the slowest progress, if that is not a contradiction in terms. I understand it is supposed to open shortly, but I am not too sure about that one.
There is a need to look at the current by-laws on permits and I understand these come under the Minister's Department. I have a question on the by-laws later but we will probably not get to it. I will receive the written reply. I accept everything the Minister says, but when one walks along the Royal Canal from the North Strand to Pelletstown, there is very little boat activity notwithstanding what Waterways Ireland says. It has a massive centre down in the basin and it may be that all of its energy is directed there. It is missing out on a great deal of potential by not opening up the Royal Canal to use to a greater extent.
The Deputy mentioned by-laws. The proposed by-laws are intended to encourage tourism and leisure craft users by supporting the investment that has already been made by Waterways Ireland in the new infrastructure and facilities along the canal. The by-laws were drafted by Waterways Ireland and went out for public consultation and are now at draft stage. My Department and Waterways Ireland are looking at the submissions that were made through the consultation process and it will be coming back to me soon. A commitment was given by my predecessor, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, to consult with the interested Deputies and Senators and I reaffirm that I will consult with them when the matter comes back to me.
Fostaíocht sa Ghaeltacht
Michael P. Kitt
Ceist:4. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Michael P. Kitt den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta chun poist a chur ar fáil sa Ghaeltacht; cén straitéis atá ann in 2015 chun poist a chruthú; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [10555/15]
Baineann mo cheist leis an dul chun cinn atá déanta ag an Aire agus ag an Roinn chun níos mó post a chur ar fáil sa Ghaeltacht agus cén straitéis atá ag an Aire don bhliain seo chun níos mó post a chruthú. Má tá cúrsaí eacnamaíochta ag feabhsú, caithfidh go mbeidh níos mó post ann sa Ghaeltacht freisin.
Leiríonn torthaí na bliana 2014, a d’fhoilsigh Údarás na Gaeltachta níos luaithe i mbliana, gur cruthaíodh an líon is airde post sa Ghaeltacht ón bhliain 2008. D’éirigh leis an Údarás 737 post nua a chruthú sa Ghaeltacht in 2014 agus bhí 7,682 post i gcliantchuideachtaí an Údaráis ag deireadh na bliana seo caite. Is é an sprioc fostaíochta atá ag an Údarás do 2015 ná 570 post nua a chruthú agus 7,000 post a choinneáil i gcliantchuideachtaí an Údaráis. Ní miste a rá gur éirigh liom cistiú breise de mhilliún euro a fháil i mbuiséad caipitil an Údaráis do 2015. Tá mé sásta go gcuideoidh an cistiú breise seo leis an Údarás chun poist a choinneáil ina chliantchuideachtaí sa Ghaeltacht agus chun tuilleadh infheistíochta a mhealladh go ceantair Ghaeltachta. Fágann sé seo go bhfuil soláthar caipitil de €6.687m ar fáil d'Údarás na Gaeltachta ón Státchiste in 2015, mar aon le foinsí maoinithe an Údaráis féin ó dhíol sócmhainní agus infheistíochtaí .
Tá tábhacht ar leith ag baint le tiomantas athnuaite an Rialtais i leith forbairt réigiúnach na tíre ina iomláine. Sa chomhthéacs seo, leanfaidh Údarás na Gaeltachta, i gcomhar le Fiontraíocht Éireann agus an tÚdarás Forbartha Tionscail, ag iarraidh infheistíocht shuntasach a mhealladh chuig ceantair iargúlta Gaeltachta. In 2015, leanfaidh an tÚdarás air ag maoiniú réimse de thionscadail a bhaineann le forbairt fiontraíochta agus cruthú fostaíochta, le béim ar leith ar mhicreathionscadail agus comhlachtaí atá ag tosú as an nua. Lena chois sin, aithníonn an tÚdarás an gá atá le forbairt scileanna chun feabhas a chur ar dheiseanna fostaíochta do phobal na Gaeltachta agus chun cuidiú le fostaithe i gcliantchuideachtaí an Údaráis a gcuid scileanna a uasghrádú. Cabhróidh an cur chuige seo chun táirgí nua a fhorbairt, margaí úra a aimsiú agus dá thoradh sin méadú a chur ar acmhainneacht fáis agus ar rathúlacht ghnóthaí na Gaeltachta.
Bhí ceist agam mar gheall ar an Údarás. Bhí Conradh na Gaeilge ag iarraidh €12 milliún don Údarás i mbuiséad na bliana seo. Tá an tAire Stáit ag rá go bhfuil níos mó ná 7,000 post anois a bhfuil baint acu leis an Údarás. Cuirim fáilte roimhe sin ach ní dúirt sé aon rud faoi chúrsaí turasóireachta. Tá a lán post le fáil a bhaineann le turasóireacht. Bhí ceist agam don Roinn mar gheall ar thaisteal go dtí na hoileáin, an aerseirbhís agus seirbhísí farantóireachta. An bhfuil an tAire Stáit sásta níos mó airgid a chur ar fáil don earnáil turasóireachta, don taisteal, do choláistí samhraidh agus do na mná tí? Tá cúrsaí turasóireachta an-tábhachtach i mbliana.
Aontaím leis an Teachta maidir le tábhacht chúrsaí turasóireachta. Is é sin an rud is tábhachtaí, mar shampla an scéal dearfach faoi Shlí an Atlantaigh Fhiáin. Tá obair mhaith déanta agus tá obair fós ar siúl. B'fhéidir go bhfuil seans mór ann idir Údarás na Gaeltachta agus na Ranna eile atá freagrach as Slí an Atlantaigh Fhiáin. Tá go leor obair déanta. Tá dúshlán sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. Tá dúshlán mór sna ceantair iargúlta. Tá dúshlán ann maidir le fostaíocht a chruthú.
Is é an rud is tábhachtaí ná an leathanbhanda a mhealladh isteach sa Ghaeltacht. Bhí agus tá obair ar siúl idir Údarás na Gaeltachta agus an Roinn Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha. Is Aire Stáit mé sa Roinn agus táim ag obair ar an gceangal mór idir na Ranna agus Údarás na Gaeltachta mar tá Údarás na Gaeltachta freagrach as ceantair iargúlta. Tá deiseanna ann anois leis an leathanbhanda agus dá mbeadh smaointe nó moltaí ag an Teachta nó ag a chomhghleacaithe maidir le hoibriú le chéile ar son na ndaoine sna ceantair Ghaeltachta, ba mhaith liom oibriú le chéile.
An aontaíonn an tAire Stáit go bhfuil dlúthbhaint idir an infheistiú seo agus saol na ndaoine sa Ghaeltacht? Is é cuspóir na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge ná líon na ndaoine a labhraíonn an teanga go laethúil a mhéadú. Tá dlúthbhaint ann idir saol na ndaoine, postanna a fháil agus an Ghaeilge a neartú. Céard a déarfaidh sé le Conradh na Gaeilge faoi na meastúcháin don bhliain seo? Mar shampla, tá méadú 8% don IDA ach tá buiséad an Údaráis á ísliú. Cé go bhfuil 7,000 post ann le cúnamh ón Údarás, tá Conradh na Gaeilge ag iarraidh 1,000 post eile sna trí bliana atá romhainn. Is dúshlán mór é sin freisin. Táim sásta go bhfuil an IDA ag déanamh go maith, ach nílim sásta go bhfuil an tÚdarás ag déanamh go maith.
Tá stair mhór ann sa ghearrthéarma. In 2010 bhí buiséad de €18 milliún ag Údarás na Gaeltachta. Laghdaíodh an buiséad ó €18 milliún in 2010 go €6 milliún in 2011. Ní shin an leibhéal ceart. D'agair mé an cás leis an Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe, an Teachta Brendan Howlin, agus an tAire Airgeadais, an Teachta Michael Noonan, go bhfuil gá ag Údarás na Gaeltachta le hacmhainní sa bhreis. Fuair Údarás na Gaeltachta €1 milliún breise anuraidh, rud a chiallaigh go raibh buiséad chaipitil de €7 milliún aige. Táim ag obair go dian chun é sin a mhéadú go €12 milliún. Is é sin an slat tomhais atá ag Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tá ról difriúl ag Údarás na Gaeltachta freisin. Tá ról ag an Údarás i gcruthúcháin fostaíochta ach tá dualgas mór air freisin maidir le cur i bhfeidhm na straitéise agus na limistéir pleanála agus leis an teanga Gaeilge. Bhí an Teachta ag labhairt maidir le tábhacht na Gaeilge a mhéadú sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge. Tá fadhb leis na hacmhainní ach táim ag obair leis an Údarás agus gabhaim buíochas le gach duine de na hoifigigh san Údarás atá ag obair go dian ar son na Gaeilge agus na ndaoine sna ceantair Ghaeltachta.
Easter Rising Commemorations
Sandra McLellan
Ceist:5. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures her Department has taken to proactively consult the public since the Government launched its commemorative programme; and the number of formal submissions that have been received to date. [10172/15]
My question relates to the 1916 commemorative programme. What measures has the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht taken to proactively consult the public since the Government launched its commemorative programme? How many formal submissions been received?
The objective of the Ireland 2016 initiative, which I am leading and which was formally launched on 12 November 2014, is to develop, co-ordinate and deliver a programme to honour and remember those who fought or died in the Easter Rising. It will also reflect on the legacy of that period and look towards our future, based on the themes set out in the Government's framework plan. I am committed, together with my Government colleagues, to ensuring that the commemorations to mark the centenary in 2016 will be inclusive, appropriate and respectful.
A 2016 project office in my Department is engaged in an extensive consultation process across the Government, State agency and community sectors to progress the development of detailed plans for 2016. In order to facilitate engagement with local communities and people of all ages nationwide, I have met representatives of the County and City Management Association and have requested local authority CEOs to take the lead in the development of local-level plans for Ireland 2016 in their individual counties during 2015.
The response has been very positive. Dedicated Ireland 2016 co-ordinators and steering groups have been put in place in each local authority to help shape and drive the relevant county programmes. A series of public meetings will be undertaken in each county, at which members of the public can come together to hear about Ireland 2016, meet those involved in their community, and explore and learn about how they can get involved. I have allocated €1 million to local authorities in 2015 to support this overall process.
Meetings have also taken place with other key Departments, agencies, local authorities and interested parties. My Department's 2016 project office is engaging with the national cultural institutions, the Arts Council, Culture Ireland and the Heritage Council to ensure that a comprehensive and diverse cultural programme is developed. Meetings and a dedicated workshop have also been held with a wide range of Irish language groups in order to develop an Irish language programme. My Department has been working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to develop an appropriate programme involving the Irish diaspora and with the Department of Education and Skills to ensure the involvement of primary and post-primary schools and third level education. My Department has also been engaging with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to ensure that the views of children are taken on board and that they have a meaningful contribution to make.
My Department is also engaging with representatives of the various relatives groups and individual relatives to hear their views on the overall programme, and to ensure that they will have a central role in a number of the key State events.
Over 100 proposals have been received in the 2016 project office to date from members of the public and interested parties via e-mail, postal submissions and through the project website, www.ireland.ie. I very much appreciate and welcome all ideas and submissions received. I look forward to continuing engagement with all stakeholders and members of the public as the Ireland 2016 initiative develops.
I thank the Minister for her answer. I know things have progressed recently. However, it is well known that the preparations for the official launch of the 1916 commemorative programme in November were rushed and were undertaken under considerable time pressure. The website for the 100th anniversary commemorative programme for Easter 2016, www.ireland.ie, was only secured a week before the launch on 12 November, according to documents released to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Government faced considerable criticism in the wake of the launch in November, with the official video for the launch, Ireland Inspires, being widely criticised for making no reference to the Easter Rising, even though I note the Minister's reply states that it was to honour those who fought or died in the Rising. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht also admitted that the Irish version of the programme on the 1916 website came from Google Translate. Thankfully it was quickly removed and replaced by the correct version.
Does the Minister agree that the sequence of events points to a complete lack of priority being given to our national 1916 commemorations? Irish people were rightly enraged by the clear lack of respect being shown at that stage to the hugely significant centenary events next year.
I thank the Deputy. The plan launched last November was an overarching plan and it was not rushed, as the Government wished to allow people to engage with it. It was a high-level plan and has been highly successful in respect of the level of engagement experienced thus far. It was necessary to start with something, and while there was a lot of talk about it, I am glad about that because it means people are engaging. When people are talking about something, they are engaging, and as I stated earlier, the Department has had great engagement with local authorities. Moreover, many different groups have approached the Department and have made suggestions. This engagement process does not stop here; it will continue, because the main commemoration event will not take place until Easter Sunday 2016, which of course will be the big State occasion. In fairness, there was a lot more to the night of the launch than the video, and many other items were not picked up on. The Deputy can rest assured that the Proclamation is at the centre of the Government's commemorations. We will commemorate and remember the signatories and all those who lost their lives in 1916.
I am sure the Minister will agree the video was something of a disaster. However, Irish people are equally outraged that as we approach the 1916 centenary, the central element in an area described by the National Museum as the most important historic site in modern Irish history has fallen into complete disrepair in an increasingly derelict site. I refer to the 1916 national monument in Moore Street, with which the Minister and her Department are familiar. The disgraceful derelict state of the national monument and the recent failed land swap proposal is proof that its current owner, Chartered Land, views the national monument as nothing more than an item of commercial exchange rather than the central element in the area. The owners have shown themselves to be unreliable guardians of our history and heritage, and their continuing ownership and future control of the monument, through NAMA funding from the public purse, should no longer be acceptable. Moreover, the failure of the State to intervene in this matter, in light of the statement by the National Museum, is a clear breach of its responsibility to act in the public interest. In her position of guardianship of the culture and heritage of this State, I ask the Minister to act on her obligations. This means protecting and preserving the national monument by whatever means are available without further delay. Can the Minister assure the people that in the lead-up to the historic 1916 celebrations next year, everything will be done on her behalf to protect the monument in order that it can take its rightful place throughout the celebrations?
I thank the Deputy. I was deeply disappointed by the voting down of the proposal for Moore Street at a meeting of Dublin City Council. The Deputy should believe me when I state that I considered the plans to be highly impressive. It was planned to have a lovely interpretive centre that would reflect well on the entire area. This was a decision of Dublin City Council, and as they are the elected members, I must respect their decision, but I am deeply disappointed that the proposal did not proceed because I thought it was a great opportunity to have this interpretive centre in Moore Street. I should make clear that my job is to protect the national monument, and that is where my function lies.
My door is open and I will continue to engage to try to make progress on this matter. It is an awful shame that the proposal did not go ahead. I saw a video of what was proposed and it would have been a fine centre that would have respected and reflected what happened in 1916.