It is now 'extremely unlikely' that a British royal will be the commemoration of the 1916 Rising next year.

The junior minister in charge of the events, Aodhan O'Riordain, has said the debate that could surround a planned attendance on O'Connell Street and the GPO could be 'a distraction' from the 100th anniversary programme.

The change in plans was decided at a meeting of a Cabinet sub-committee last week.

The Sinn Fein President said last week that members of the British royal family are not unwelcome at the centenary - but that they are not a priority.

Gerry Adams was speaking ahead of the launch of the party's national programme of events to mark the Centenary, which takes place in Dublin today.

Mr Adams says the courage of the volunteers of the Rising cannot be forgotten.

"No real objections per se to royal visits - but I just think that the important people in this particular event are Irish people (and) the families of the volunteers who went out at that time" he said.

Some €2m in extra funds for the Arts Council has been announced to finance events for the 1916 centenary.

This brings the Arts Council funding to €60m for 2015.

The money is being earmarked for the Council's commemorations programme as part of Ireland 2016, and will allow it to fund a series of events and initiatives across the country.