Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The aim of Culture 2025, Ireland's first national cultural policy, will be to set out the high-level aims and policies of the Government in this area in the period up to 2025. To help inform the public consultation process, I launched a discussion document on the proposed cultural policy on 7 August last. That document was informed by a colloquium of cultural stakeholders organised by my Department, in association with the Royal Irish Academy, on 25 May last.

My Department is currently undertaking a series of regional public meetings around the country on the development of this policy. I hosted the first meeting in Cavan last week. These meetings provide an opportunity to hear directly from local cultural organisations throughout the country. In addition, I am inviting everyone to submit written observations on the discussion document and the specific questions which it poses. Details of the public meetings and the postal and e-mail addresses for submissions are available on my Department's website. I also announced last week that the deadline for submissions is being extended to 31 October 2015.

Culture 2025 will reflect the important role culture plays in our daily lives and will help integrate cultural policy within broader social and economic goals. It will explore how culture can contribute to building an inclusive society, provide avenues for expression for our citizens, drive innovation and contribute to our societal growth and economic well-being. The final policy document to emerge from this process will be submitted for the approval of Government and it is envisaged that the new policy will be published in early 2016.

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