Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2017
68. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way in which she plans to promote the Norman Way under the Creative Ireland Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27610/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Taoiseach and I launched the Creative Ireland Programme 2017–2022 in December 2016 as the Government Legacy Programme for Ireland 2016 and as the main implementation vehicle for the priorities identified in Culture 2025/Éire Ildánach, the draft cultural policy which I published in July 2016.
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. It focuses on boosting cultural provision and participation in communities and harnessing the goodwill and engagement generated by the 2016 commemorative programme. Further information on the programme, its key pillars and deliverables for 2017 is available online at https://creative.ireland.ie.
Pillar Two of the Programme – Enabling creativity in every community – is being implemented primarily through the local authorities who, as the primary instruments of community engagement, have a particular capacity for engaging citizens through local programme delivery including heritage initiatives and promotion.
A dedicated budget of €1m from the overall Creative Ireland Programme budget of €5m has been allocated to the local authorities towards the implementation of initiatives under Pillar Two including the publication of a Culture and Creativity Plan for each county. These plans were launched by the Taoiseach on the 25 May 2017 and are available online at https://creative.ireland.ie/en/local-plans.
Each plan includes a series of projects that will utilise the funding I have provided as well as a list of promotional events occurring in each county throughout the year.
It was a matter for the local authority to decide on what events/projects to fund and consider for inclusion in their Culture and Creativity Plans and I note that Wexford County Council included raising awareness about the Norman Way as one the projects/initiatives to be delivered in County Wexford in 2017 under the Creative Ireland Programme.
