Minister must take control of failed Arts Council IT System
Minister must take control of failed Arts Council IT System - The Labour Party
Labour Cork North Central TD and member of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee Eoghan Kenny has called out the Minister’s failure to take responsibility for the failed Arts Council IT system.
Deputy Kenny said:
“It’s clear to me that the Minister is using the Director of the Arts Council as their scapegoat, rather than declining to intervene and take responsibility for the failures in the Arts Council.
“The Director of the Arts Council made a business case for the renewal of her contract, yet the Minister declined this. It warrants further investigation.
“The Director had over 60 communications to the Department informing them that the IT project was failing. The Department had this degree of oversight, and yet continued to plough on.
“Ms Kenneally has been treated appalling, considering when she entered the role in April 2020 she requested a Senior IT Expert to oversee the project. The Department wouldn’t sanction this appointment, knowing the project was failing.
“While I appreciate a new Minister is now in situ, it’s still no way to do business. We need the Minister to buck up and take control of this.”