The Department of Environment and the Irish Architecture Foundation are to host a series of meetings to consult people about the State's new policy on architecture.
The "Conversations about Architecture and the Built Environment" meetings will be held at eight locations nationwide and are expected to focus on approaches to sustainable development and urban design.
The Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, said the meetings would "provide the maximum level of public input into the key themes and issues which are emerging as the policy is being developed."
"The onus is on us to respond to the changing nature of issues relating to the built environment, and it is in that context, that I approved the development of the new policy. The next stage in the process is this public consultation exercise, which I feel will be critical to the entire undertaking," said Mr Gormley.
The new policy on architecture is being developed by the Department of Environment and overseen by a Steering Committee appointed last year by the Minister and chaired by Professor Loughlin Kealy.
Nathalie Weadick, director of the Irish Architecture Foundation, said the meetings were a "vital opportunity to listen to the public who are the users and developers of the built environment".
It is expected that a draft of the new Policy on Architecture will be ready in Autumn 2008.
Public meetings are scheduled for GMIT, Dublin Road, Galway (May 29th), Museum of Treasures, Waterford (June 3rd), Lewis Glucksman Gallery, Cork (June 4th), Limerick City Gallery (June 5th), The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon (June 9th), Athlone Civic Centre (June 10th), Fingal County Hall, Swords (June 11th) and The Ark, Temple Bar, Dublin (June 12th).
