Artists must not suffer because of Arts Council IT fiasco
Artists must not suffer because of Arts Council IT fiasco - The Labour Party
- Minister needs to provide reassurance to artists.
- Was this waste covered up by outgoing government?
Labour Arts spokesperson Rob O’Donoghue has called on the Minister to confirm that artists and organisations funded by the Arts Council won’t suffer any fallout from a failed IT project that wasted over €5 million.
Deputy O’Donoghue said:
“Funding from the Arts Council is a vital lifeline for many artists and organisations in Ireland but far too many still don’t have access to it. The revelation today that over €5 million was wasted on a Business Transformation Programme for the delivery of new ICT projects over a number of years is deeply concerning, when it could have provided so much benefit to struggling artists.
“Many of those funded by the Arts Council will be worried that their vital supports may be undermined. It is vital that the Minister provide reassurance that funding for grants and supports will be protected, and questions answered on how this happened at all.
“I am very concerned that the IT project started back in 2018, but was not paused until late 2023 after millions had been spent, with details only now coming to light. It raises serious questions for the Arts Council, the line Department, the Minister who was in charge during that time, and what oversight if any the Department of Public Expenditure had over such a major IT project.
“How can millions of euro, that could be supporting artists be wasted on IT? In our recent manifesto we called for Arts Council supports to be expanded to a broader range of artists, and increased funding for the Arts. A spending scandal like this undermines the work of so many campaigning for greater supports for the Arts.
“The Minister should make a statement to the Dáil at the earliest opportunity to outline how this happened, and if it was covered up by the last government?
“Artists also need answers on whether this wasted money was directed away from funding community grants or artists supports. The relevant committees including Public Accounts should swiftly move to examine this matter, and the Arts Council should appear before the sectoral Dáil Committee when it is established.”