Mr. Feargal Ó Coigligh:

The committee needs to know that, in May 2020, the Department sanctioned a head of ICT; in May 2022, the Department sanctioned a technical launch manager; in November 2022, the Department sanctioned an ICT service delivery manager; in February 2024, the Department sanctioned a director of business transformation programme; in March 2024, the Department sanctioned an ICT director; and in June 2024, it sanctioned an IT manager. In relation to the employment and the level of employment that was asked for, in this case, it was a principal officer. Given that the highest senior post in the Arts Council was a principal officer with a director allowance, and it had a deputy director, in terms of the chain of command and Government policy set down by the Department of public expenditure, it was not possible to employ at a principal officer level.