The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is being urged to investigate the Arts Council’s multi-million million expenditure on a failed IT project, which one TD criticised as a “needless waste of taxpayers’ money.”
The remarks were made by Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly, who is the party’s arts spokesman.
“It has emerged today that €7 million was spent by the Arts Council on an unsuccessful IT system – the latest in a litany of spending scandals involving the needless waste of taxpayers’ money,” he said.
“I find it difficult to understand how so much money could be spent on a failed project. At what stage of its design or rollout did it because apparent that the system was not fit for purpose? This is the type of information that needs to be put into the public domain.”
Farrelly also questioned whether the Government had suppressed this overspend information until after the general election “for political reasons”.
“It has also been suggested that the report into this matter was submitted to former Arts Minister Catherine Martin as far back as last summer, which begs the question: did the previous government deliberately sit on its findings until after the general election for political reasons?” he asked.
“While it is welcome that the government has ordered a full external review of the Arts Council, new Arts Minister Patrick O’Donovan must still answer questions on this matter in the Dáil.
“I am also calling for the Arts Council’s annual report and financial statements to be subject to a robust interrogation by PAC when the committee reconvenes.”
He added: “We deserve nothing less than full transparency and accountability when it comes to how public funds are spent.”
In a statement this afternoon, Arts Minister Patrick O’Donovan said that the Arts Council’s 2023 Annual Report and Financial Statements were submitted to the Department “last summer,” but that they were only brought to his attention “on taking office two weeks ago.”
“Within the annual report are details of an unsuccessful IT system development project at the Arts Council,” he said.
“The accounts include the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report, which notes an overall loss of value in respect of that project estimated at €5.3 million, up to June 2024. The total cost of the project to date is €6.675m.”
Arts Minister Patrick O’Donovan outlined serious governance failures in the Arts Council’s failed IT project. He noted that a departmental examination found the Council was “unprepared for the scale of the project” and lacked adequate resources, while “departmental oversight was inadequate.”
He expressed “deep concern” over the handling of the project and confirmed that the Arts Council has committed to implementing “36 recommendations” from the review. His department has also introduced measures to “strengthen oversight” and prevent similar failures.
O’Donovan highlighted broader issues of “governance and culture” within the Arts Council and stressed the need for “assurance that the culture of the Arts Council, at all levels, is open and transparent.” He pointed out that state funding for the Arts Council has risen by 75% to €140 million in 2025 and insisted it is “vital that all stakeholders can have confidence that these resources are being used appropriately.”
To address these concerns, he announced an “external review of governance and culture at the Arts Council,” covering all activities and expenditures, which will “commence shortly.”