Ireland's Environment Minister has stressed the importance of a resurgence in professional architects when the economy recovers.

Addressing the European Association for Architectural Education (EAAE), John Gormley praised the industry for its focus on training and continual improvements despite the recession.

Belgium-based EAAE is a non-profit voluntary body devoted to the advance of architectural education across Europe.

It represents over 100 schools of architecture, conducting workshops for teachers, supported by the EU's Socrates programme.

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Following the Minister’s address in the Custom House, he said: "I am always pleased to see such conferences and workshops taking place both within and outside our capital city, in particular when dealing with the many strands of our built heritage nationally."

Minister Gormley congratulated Professor Loughlin Kealy, Dublin, and Professor Stefano Musso, of the Faculty of Architecture, University of Genoa for bringing this two-day Workshop to Ireland, under the auspices of the European Association for Architectural Education.

"In these times of decreased economic activity, including of course construction, it is heartening to see educators in architecture coming together to enhance and develop architectural education," he said.

"This demonstrates to me a commitment to enhancing education in architecture and an optimism that architecture will always continue to be important and, furthermore, will be resurgent as a profession when our economies come out of recession."

Minister Gormley said he will be launching the new Government Policy on Architecture 2009-2015 in the coming weeks.

(PR/KMcA)