The Government has mandated an external review of governance and culture at The Arts Council following a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General that detailed a €7m expenditure on an IT system that did not succeed.
Minister for the Arts Patrick O’Donovan expressed his frustration regarding a €5.3m loss reported in the 2023 annual review of The Arts Council, which included an investigation into a failed IT project that began in 2018.
The Arts Council acknowledged the shortcomings in handling the IT project, leading to a write-off of the expenditure, and stated they are seeking legal recourse against contractors involved.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe expressed serious concerns regarding governance issues and oversight within The Arts Council, especially regarding the long duration taken to address existing problems.
