Written answers

Wednesday, 19 February 2025

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Arts Council

Photo of Robert O'DonoghueRobert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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110. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if an off-the-shelf IT solution an option as part of the tender for the Arts Council IT scheme or if bespoke solutions were the only systems considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6779/25]

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Report on the Examination of The Arts Council Business Transformation Project commissioned by the Secretary General of my Department, which is published on my Department’s website , sets out the background to the options considered by the Arts Council in the project initiation phase. These are detailed in chapter two of the Report.

Photo of Réada CroninRéada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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111. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the timeline for the external review into culture and governance at the Arts Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6785/25]

Photo of Réada CroninRéada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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112. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps being taken to address issues relating to oversight, monitoring and reporting arrangements within the Arts Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6786/25]

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together.

I have instructed my Department to commence an external review of governance and culture at the Arts Council that will extend to all activities and expenditures under the remit of the Arts Council. I will shortly announce the terms of reference and other details of the review .

In addition, the report of the examination of the Arts Council project commissioned by the Secretary General of my Department contains a number of key findings and 36 recommendations. Arrangements to ensure the implementation of these recommendations are being put in place.

Photo of Réada CroninRéada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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113. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding provided for the Arts Council from 2019 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6787/25]

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The annual allocations to the Arts Council are set out in tabular form below.

Year Current €m Capital €m Total €m
2019 73.957 1.045 75.002
2020 102.957 2.045 105.002
2021 128.001 2.045 130.046
2022 133.135 2.045 135.180
2023 128.443 2.045 130.488
2024 132.233 2.045 134.278
2025 137.993 2.045 140.038

Photo of Réada CroninRéada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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114. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the failed IT system of the Arts Council will be replaced with a different one; the level of funding that will be provided for it; who the contract would be awarded to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6788/25]

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Secretary General of my Department commissioned an examination of the Arts Council ICT project that was completed on 6 February this year. The report of this examination is published and contains 36 recommendations. Arrangements to ensure the implementation of these recommendations will be put in place shortly. In addition, I have directed that an external review be carried out of governance and organisational culture at the Arts Council. My focus at present is on the timely completion of these processes and no active consideration is being given at present to new IT systems for the Arts Council.

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