Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:237. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the review of the national architecture policy. [2739/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 20 January 2021
Ceisteanna (237)
Freagraí scríofa
My Department is currently fine-tuning the drafting of a new National Policy on Architecture which will support long–term planning strategies and will assist in addressing key issues including societal well-being, climate change and urban regeneration. The adaptation of existing as well as the design of new buildings will, of course, be critical to meet the targets set by the Climate Action Plan. It is my intention that a new National Policy on Architecture will play an integral part in implementing our vision for the future providing policy actions that will encourage best quality in researching, understanding, managing, enhancing and reusing our existing built environment assets as well as delivering sustainable new places and spaces.
My Department, supported by a steering committee including officials from the Office of Public Works, the Department of Education and Skills, the Health Service Executive, the City and County Architects Association, the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, the Arts Council, the Heritage Council, the schools of architecture and the Irish Architecture Foundation, undertook a public consultation process in 2020 allowing the opportunity for all communities, stakeholders and citizens to have their say on the proposed new Policy.
The consultation phase considered the main ways in which architecture and our built environment affect society, our health and well-being and our ability to prosper. These include climate adaptation and mitigation and sustainable development, the benefits for everyone of obtaining high quality in the built environment, the protection and reuse of our built heritage, ways we can demonstrate built environment leadership and the need to foster education about our built environment. As well as receiving online and written submissions and engaging on social media my Department held a series of workshops and meetings, including virtual workshops in line with public health restrictions, to allow wide-ranging involvement in the drafting of the new policy, as well as consideration of the effect of Covid-19 on our built environment.
The new Policy will be informed by the feedback from the consultation phase, with over 150 submissions received, as well as by a review of the previous Government Policy on Architecture and our involvement in a European Commission working group on high quality architecture and built environment. A report based on analysis of the consultation phase is to be completed this month. It is my intention that a draft policy will then be circulated to key stakeholders, including the Deputy, and Government Departments prior to finalisation.