Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017
52. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which she expects to be in a position to continue to utilise events of a cultural and heritage nature to promote the national image at home and abroad with particular reference to the need to generate increased interest in such matters among young persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20397/17]
View answerMy Department will continue to support a broad range of programmes and initiatives across its remit to promote Ireland’s national image, including under the recently published Creative Ireland Programme and Action Plan for Rural Development. The Department’s Culture Ireland programme in particular will promote Irish culture on the world stage. The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme last year facilitated a heightened sense of shared identity and pride of country. Following on from this the Taoiseach and I recently launched the Creative Ireland Programme as the Government's legacy programme – a five year initiative, from 2017 to 2022 which places creativity at the centre of public policy.
This is a cross-Government initiative to mainstream culture and creativity in the life of the nation and to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. This will focus on boosting cultural provision and participation in communities and harnessing the goodwill and engagement generated by the 2016 commemorative programme.
The core proposition of this programme is that participation in cultural activity drives personal and collective creativity, with significant implications for individual and societal wellbeing and achievement. The programme is based on five pillars:
- Enabling the creative potential of every child
- Enabling creativity in every community
- Investing in our creative and cultural infrastructure
- Establishing Ireland as a centre of excellence in media production
- Unifying our global reputation
I am confident that this programme will be very beneficial in promoting the national image at home and abroad and in increasing interest in cultural and heritage matters amongst young people.
