A failed IT project at the Irish Arts Council has led to significant financial losses and raised concerns about transparency and reporting within the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Former Minister Catherine Martin suggests the full extent of the losses was only revealed last summer, while the department acknowledges shortcomings in reporting mechanisms. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is set to investigate the matter, with key figures like former Arts Council chair Kevin Rafter and director Maureen Kennelly expected to be called upon to provide evidence.
In a statement, former minister Catherine Martin seemed to suggest the full extent of the losses from the failed IT project was disclosed only last summer
“In terms of the department, the examination found there was no formal process ... to escalate warnings to senior management or the Minister in respect of IT projects in bodies under the remit of the department,” said the statement. on the matter. If she does, she will be asked when she became aware of problems, and to what extent was she briefed about the ongoing difficulties.The Fine Gael TD succeeds Ms Martin and came into office last month, some time after the IT project was abandoned.
The project to replace the council’s out-of-date IT system had already been approved when he became chair, but it was one of the major issues facing the board during his tenure. If asked to attend the PAC, it expected Mr Rafter will be asked in detail about the deliberations of the board, about his communications with the department and with Ms Martin, and why the board took a critical decision to continue with the project when fundamental difficulties were identified at a particular juncture, a decision that led to further substantial expenditure on an IT system that never took off the ground.
ARTS COUNCIL IRELAND IT PROJECT FAILURES PUBLIC MONEY TRANSPARENCY REPORTING PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE CATHERINE MARTIN KEVIN RAFTER MAUREEN KENNELLY
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