Consultation on the Policy on Architecture
The Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government is currently developing a new policy on architecture, overseen by a Steering Committee appointed in 2007 by the Minister of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr John Gormley, T.D. The Steering Committee and various associated groups have been working towards identifying important issues that will be key to a future architecture policy.We wanted to hear the views of the public on how architecture should develop in the coming years, to this end the Irish Architecture Foundation coordinated a series of nation-wide public workshops during May and June. These events were open to everyone to attend and took the form of facilitated, round-table discussions.
Minister's message
'The onus is on us to respond to the changing nature of issues relating to the built environment and, it is in that context, that I approved the development of the new policy. The next stage in the process is this public consultation exercise, which I feel will be critical to the entire undertaking. This will provide the maximum level of public input into the key themes and issues which are emerging as the policy is being developed.The Policy on Architecture will address issues which have arisen in the years since the publication of the first policy on architecture, Action on Architecture 2002-2005. It will place more emphasis on sustainable development of the environment and on urban design and will also aim at incorporating architectural heritage in a holistic, integrated manner. Finally, it will develop an action plan which will respond to, and promote awareness of all those areas.'
The Minister of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr John Gormley, T.D.
Irish Architecture Foundation, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government 2008