The former Arts Minister, Catherine Martin, was informed last summer about the €5.3 million loss on the abandoned Arts Council IT project. Documents revealed that the annual report with the Comptroller and Auditor General’s comments on the project’s cost was delivered to the Department of Arts in July. Briefing notes were prepared for Martin in case of inquiries about the IT controversy. However, the annual accounts were not made public at that time as the department awaited responses from the Arts Council for an internal examination.

The delayed revelation of the significant loss raised concerns, leading to inquiries by Oireachtas committees and criticism from the Opposition regarding the timing of the report’s publication. The new Arts Minister, Patrick O’Donovan, was informed about the issue shortly after taking office and expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of communication regarding the failed project.

The Business Transformation Programme (BTP) aimed to streamline grant applications but faced challenges due to complexity and a lack of expertise within the Arts Council. The project, initially budgeted at under €3 million, ended up costing €6.675 million. The government initiated external reviews of the Arts Council’s governance and the Department of Arts’ organizational culture in response to the controversy.

Minister O’Donovan emphasized the importance of accountability and governance during a meeting with Arts Council officials, highlighting the need for transparency in handling such projects. The government’s actions following the revelation of the project’s failure underscore a commitment to addressing inefficiencies and improving oversight within the arts sector.