Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Like the Minister, I presume the Arts Council and any other statutory agency would comply fully with the guidelines that have been laid out for the renting, leasing and disposing of property. According to the whistleblower in this instance, a business case has not been made. Has a business case been presented to the Minister, or to officials in the Department, with regard to the Arts Council's move? I have been told, subsequent to the protected disclosure being sent to the Minister, that this move is imminent. I understand that the negotiations on the new property are at such a heightened stage that the leases are being drawn up. Given that the new property seems to involve an increase of more than 30% in the annual rent, I suggest that this move is not as appropriate as it has been presented to the board of the Arts Council. Has a business case been made? If not, have the Minister and the Department instructed the Arts Council to prepare such a case before the attempt to move the council's head office goes any further?

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