AQW 7784/22-27

Mr Matthew O'Toole
Social Democratic and Labour Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 28/02/2024
Answered On Date: 13/03/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities for an update on the Culture, Arts and Heritage Strategy; including a timescale for sending the strategy out for public consultation.

Answer:

Work on the development of a Culture, Arts and Heritage Strategy is underway within my department. This is a significant piece of work and over coming months my officials will be engaging across Executive departments; with local government and with other stakeholders in a process that will culminate in the production of a draft strategy that will be opened for public consultation.

Given the significance of these sectors to a wide range of policy areas, to the economy and to the quality of life of all people in Northern Ireland, I intend that the consultation period should be timed to encourage responses from as broad a range of interests as possible. I will make an announcement on the timing and form of the consultation process in due course.