Latest news with #Kennelly
The Irish Sun
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Arts Council ‘greatly regrets' €6.7m failed IT project spend & Maureen Kennelly to step down as director after hearings
THE Arts Council says it 'greatly regrets' splurging €6.7 million on a IT project that was later abandoned. Representatives from the Arts Council today appeared before the Public Accounts Committee following a 2 Arts Council chair Maura McGrath told how members of the body were appearing before the PAC 'to be accountable for our actions' Credit: Stedman The Arts Council has come under fire after it emerged it splashed €6.7million on a new grants management system, which was subsequently abandoned following multiple delays and complications. The project was to see five separate IT portals dating from 2008 amalgamated into one centralised grants management system but it was botched and never delivered. An initial investigation by the Department of Arts, published last February, found the council had not been prepared for the scale of the project and it had not put in place resources to deliver it. Amid the fallout, the State agency was blasted by Arts Minister Patrick O'Donovan, who expressed his 'deep concern'. Read more in News Officials from the council appeared before the Public Accounts Committee today. Arts Council chair Maura McGrath today told how members of the body were appearing before the PAC 'to provide full transparent information, to be accountable for our actions'. But Ms McGrath also took a swipe at the She insisted the controversial project 'was not and is not an optional extra'. Most read in Irish News Ms McGrath said: 'It began out of necessity, and it is a necessity that remains to be addressed.' And the Arts Council chair questioned the role of Government in the debacle. 'CARRY THE LOAD' McGrath rapped: 'The expectation that small State bodies set up for specialist purposes should be expected to carry the load on complex IT projects should be questioned.' The 2023 accounts for the agency note an overall loss of value of €5.3million up to June 2024. Arts Council director Maureen Kennelly - who will step down next month - revealed that it is now pursuing legal cases against two of the IT contractors involved in the failed project. Ms Kennelly told how the council has commenced legal proceedings against two contractors, with the council in the pre-action stage in relation to two others. 'REDUCE THE LOSS' She said: 'We are vigorously pursuing our cases to reduce the loss to the Ms Kennelly told TDs at the PAC that the IT systems date from 2008. Highlighting contributing factors to the project failure, she blamed 'a lack of internal expertise, poor performance by our contractors and also the impact of She said: 'In summary, lack of internal expertise, poor performance by our contractors and also, the impact of Covid-19 all contributed to the project failure.' Ms Kennelly also stressed that they have senior ICT expertise in-house now. 'VERY DISAPPOINTED' And she pledged the council would implement all recommendations from the Examination Report published by the Department of Arts. Speaking about her upcoming departure, Ms Kennelly said she is 'very disappointed' she has not been granted another term as director. But she said Arts Minister O'Donovan 'did not consent to a second term'. Ms Kennelly said: 'I'm very disappointed that a second term wasn't sanctioned for me, because I had very great plans for the organisation. The board fully supported me. DEPARTMENT 'FAILED' 'There were a number of reforms that I brought in, and there were a number of other reforms that I really wanted to see through. So it's a source of great disappointment that I won't be able to see those through.' Feargal O Coigligh, Secretary General of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts, admitted that his department had 'failed' to properly exercise its oversight function. Addressing the PAC, he confessed they 'should have intervened more actively and much sooner' to reduce the exposure of the taxpayer to this failed project. Mr O Coigligh highlighted how the minister has established an Expert Advisory Committee, led by Professor Niamh Brennan, to review the Governance and Organisational Culture in the Arts Council. A parallel review of the department's internal governance operations is also under way. 2 Arts Minister Patrick O'Donovan expressed his 'deep concern' over the failed IT project Credit: Getty
RTÉ News
29-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Arts Council 'greatly regrets' €6.7m IT failure, PAC hears
The Arts Council has said it "greatly regrets" spending €6.7 million on a complex IT project that was later abandoned, the Public Accounts Committee has heard. The council confirmed that it is now pursuing legal cases against two of the IT contractors involved in the failed project. Arts Council chairperson Maura McGrath said that in relation to the IT system failure the project was "not and is not an optional extra". "It began out of necessity, and it is a necessity that remains to be addressed." She also questioned the expectation that "small state bodies set up for specialist purposes" should be expected to "carry the load on complex IT projects". Ms McGrath added that the Arts Council "accepts the findings" of the Examination Report published by the Department of Arts in February this year. Arts Council Director Maureen Kennelly said that council began this project to modernise its IT systems and integrate five systems into one, explaining that the systems date from 2008, are not integrated and are difficult to use. Everything on this project was procured under public procurement guidelines, she said, adding that the council used the Office of Government Procurement framework, and the main contractor was on the OGP approved ICT framework. She added that the council "engaged external contractors to manage and deliver the work, as we did not have the internal resources to deliver this large-scale project". Ms Kennelly said that as the council approached their expected delivery in September 2022, a year later than initially planned, "multiple bugs were discovered". The sub-standard work meant the project could not move forward to completion. The council then ended contracts with both the testers and developers, she said. She added that they changed the developers, project governance and management structure and began work to "rectify and complete the programme". Ms Kennelly then said that the council was ultimately advised that the system was "too flawed to rectify in a reasonable timeframe". She said that system development was then paused, and it stopped following a board decision, with the input of the office of the Government Chief Information Officer, in June 2024. The effect of this decision was an overall loss of value of €5.3 million, which was reported to the C&AG and included in the 2023 annual report and accounts. "Throughout, we provided information and discussed with our colleagues in the department how increasing costs were to be funded from within our capital grant. "In summary, lack of internal expertise, poor performance by our contractors and also, the impact of Covid-19 all contributed to the project failure." Ms Kennelly explained that the council has commenced legal proceedings against two contractors and is in the pre-action stage in relation to two others, adding that the council is "vigorously" pursuing the cases to reduce the loss to the taxpayer. She also said that they have senior ICT expertise in-house now and are in the process of implementing all recommendations relevant to us from the department's examination report. Secretary General of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts Feargal Ó Coigligh told the PAC that his department had "failed" to properly exercise its oversight function. He added that they "should have intervened more actively and much sooner" to reduce the exposure of the taxpayer to this failed project. The minister has established an Expert Advisory Committee, led by Professor Niamh Brennan, to review the Governance and Organisational Culture in the Arts Council, said Mr Ó Coigligh. A parallel review of the department's internal governance operations is also under way with the assistance of the IPA. National Gallery of Ireland A team from the National Gallery of Ireland will also appear before the PAC to explain why it purchased a scanner for €125,000, that has yet to be made operational. The X-ray machine purchased in 2017 will be operational by the end of the year, the National Gallery of Ireland has said. National Gallery Director Dr Caroline Campbell said issues around the storage of the scanner led to a contract being awarded for the construction of a "dedicated lead-lined cabinet". Dr Campbell said that the manufacturing of the X-ray cabinet will "commence shortly", with the expected delivery, installation and operation of the X-ray system, before the end of the year. She added that all costs associated with it will be borne from the resources generated by the National Gallery and not from the Exchequer.
The Journal
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Arts Council boss to be grilled on failed €6.7m IT project before bowing out of role
THE ARTS COUNCIL is set to face a grilling at the Public Accounts Committee over the failed project to develop an IT system for the organisation which cost nearly €6.7 million. The director of the Arts Council, Maureen Kennelly, will appear before the committee before she steps down from her role next month. Kennelly's five-year term as director ended on 4 May, and the Arts Council confirmed yesterday that she agreed to remain in her role to represent the board at upcoming Public Accounts Committee hearings. Staff from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media will also appear before the committee this morning. The Arts Council are expected to tell the committee that a lack of internal expertise, poor performance by its contractors and the impact of Covid-19 all contributed to the project failure. Arts Minister Patrick O'Donovan launched an external review of the controversial IT project in February after it was confirmed that €5.3 million was written off on a system that was 'not fit for purpose' and was eventually discontinued. When the project was first planned six years ago, it was estimated to cost roughly €3 million and take two-and-a-half years to complete. By the time it was abandoned, the cost of the project had reached €6.675 million, and the system was not in use. The Arts Council continues to use an outdated grant applications system that was in place when the IT upgrade was first announced. Maura McGrath, the chair of the Arts Council board, will tell the committee that the project 'was not an optional extra' and began out of necessity, 'and it is a necessity that remains to be addressed'. Advertisement 'However, the expectation that small state bodies set up for specialist purposes should be expected to carry the load on complex IT projects, should be questioned,' she will say. Legal proceedings Kennelly will tell the Public Accounts Committee that they have commenced legal proceedings against two contractors and are in the pre-action stage in relation to two others. 'We are vigorously pursuing our cases to reduce the loss to the taxpayer,' Kennelly will say. The committee will hear how the Arts Council's systems date from 2008, are not integrated and are difficult to use. Kennelly will tell TDs and Senators that as the expected delivery date of September 2022 approached for the IT project, 'multiple bugs were discovered' and the 'sub-standard work' meant the project could not move forward to completion. She will say that following a review and attempted re-working, 'we were ultimately advised by new ICT consultants at the end of 2023 that the system was too flawed to rectify in a reasonable timeframe'. Kennelly will also say that the Arts Council now has senior ICT expertise in-house, and have 'identified and implemented improvements to our procurement and project management processes'. 'We are in the process of implementing all recommendations relevant to us from the Department's examination report.' Meanwhile, the Secretary General at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media will assure the committee that the Department 'places the highest emphasis on fulfilling our oversight responsibilities in relation to all our bodies'. Feargal Ó Coigligh will say it is clear from the report in relation to the IT project that the Department 'failed to properly exercise its oversight function' and that it should have 'intervened more actively and much sooner to reduce the exposure to the taxpayer of this failed project'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Maureen Kennelly to step down as Arts Council director following PAC hearing on €6.7m IT controversy
Ms Kennelly's five-year term in the role ended earlier this month, however the Arts Council has said she agreed to stay on as director to represent the body at upcoming Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Oireachtas hearings. The Arts Council is set to appear before PAC this Thursday, when it will be asked about an abandoned IT project, in what will be the first major hearing before the committee since the formation of the 34th Dáil. Earlier this year, it was revealed the Arts Council had spent almost €7m on the project which planned to bring in a new system for processing and managing grant applications. When the project was first planned in 2019, it was expected to cost €3m and take two-and-a-half years. By the time it was abandoned, the cost of the project had reached €6.675m but the new system was still not in place. The Arts Council continues to use the outdated grant applications system it had when the upgrade was proposed. The Comptroller and Auditor General found €5.3m was written off on the project and had it continued to go ahead, it would not have been completed until 2028. "Maureen is truly of the arts. For her, the role of Director was a vocation, not merely a job,' the chair of the Arts Council board Maura McGrath said. 'Her commitment and passion were evident every day, and are widely acknowledged across the sector. We are deeply grateful for her unwavering dedication and her loyal service to the arts community.' Ms Kennelly took up the role of Arts Council director in April 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic led a 'period of significant cultural change' in the organisation. The Arts Council said she worked through 'longstanding legacy challenges and brought renewed strategic clarity to the Council's work'. Maureen's contribution to the arts in Ireland has been transformative and is recognised both nationally and internationally,' a statement from the Arts Council read. 'Throughout her tenure, Maureen has demonstrated the highest levels of integrity and commitment to public service. Her principled approach to leadership and unwavering dedication to the arts community have been defining hallmarks of her directorship. 'The Board wishes to express its heartfelt thanks to Maureen for her enormous contribution and extends its very best wishes for her future endeavours."
Irish Independent
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Lisselton's Jack Kennelly and his Random Bag syndicate fancied to win A3 550 final with Oreo Ollie
Oreo Ollie gets the vote to claim the €10,000 winner's purse ahead of the other semi-final winner, Killacolla Hill, as well as Headleys Trump and Kennelly's Baby Don't Dally Kerryman The way has been cleared for the final of the Lee Strand A3 550 Sweepstake at Tralee this Saturday night and, on semi-final running and because he landed trap 1 in the draw afterwards, Oreo Ollie is going to be favourite to claim the magnificent winner's purse of €10,000 for Lisselton trainer, Jack Kennelly, and the Random Bag syndicate which he heads up. Kennelly will also have a second finalist in another syndicate dog, Baby Don't Dally, and, with the young man on a high after brilliantly winning the final of the Islandbridge Open 350 Sweepstake (winner, €5,000) at Shelbourne Park with Sogna Ancora, he most definitely has become the man to beat.
