Written answers

Tuesday, 10 February 2015

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Heritage Projects

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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657. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she has had discussions with other Departments or interest groups, with a view to creating greater awareness of our national heritage and culture throughout primary and second level schools; if she continues to have discussions with the Department of Education and Skills in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6079/15]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There are a number of initiatives in my Department that seek to generate increased awareness of our national culture and heritage among interest groups, including schools. The Ireland 2016Programme to mark the hundredth anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising is a major priority for me. This programme is underpinned by a €4 million current budget in 2015, which will support a wide range of activities across the arts, cultural and educational sectors. In particular, I have been working closely with my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Ms Jan O'Sullivan, T.D., on the development of the formal education sector input into the Decade of Centenaries commemorations. As part of this overall programme, the Department of Education and Skills is planning a number of specific events to mark the centenary of 2016 across primary, post-primary and third level sectors.

It is very important to me that the arts are made more accessible. Immersing school students in the arts through a targeted strategy will benefit future generations and give young people a greater understanding and appreciation of the arts as they progress to adulthood. I have met my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, on a number of occasions to discuss the Arts in Education Charter. The Arts in Education Implementation Group has been proactive in meeting many organisations from both the arts and education sectors and progressing a number of initiatives. Of particular interest is the current development of a portal, which will form a key communications and information channel for both the education and arts sectors.

The National Cultural Institutions include a diverse range of cultural institutions and agencies, which are involved in a wide number of initiatives with a view to engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including schools, both primary and post-primary.Each of these cultural institutions has a range of education initiatives, including exhibitions, events and school outreach programmes, through which schools can explore and engage in our rich cultural heritage.

Another important priority for me is to deliver Ireland's first national cultural policy. Last June, the Government agreed to the drafting of a national cultural policy - Culture 2025– which will set out high-level policy for the period up to 2025. I intend to initiate a wide-scale consultation process shortly to ensure all interest groups, including the education sector, can make their views known.

There are many other ways in which my Department is supporting arts, cultural and heritage initiatives in conjunction with local groups and communities including schools. These include:

- The St. Patrick's Day celebrations;

- Culture Night;

- The Heritage in Schools scheme, one of many heritage programmes of the Heritage Council, which is supported by funding from my Department.

- The Archaeology in the Classroom initiative.

- The National Architects-in-Schools Initiative, funded by my Department under the Government Policy on Architecture 2009-2015.

- Funding Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for the promotion of the Irish traditional arts;

- The development of web-based projects by my Department and others to promote greater appreciation and understanding of Ireland's culture and heritage for schools; and

- Funding by my Department to support the work of National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) in developing Creative Engagementan arts and culture programme in post primary schools.

Details on many of the events surrounding these initiatives are available to view on Culturefox,the free online arts events guide developed by the Arts Council.

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