Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 May 2018
39. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of her Department’s post-project review on a cinema (details supplied); if the review has commenced; and if so, when it will be completed; the terms of reference for the review; the membership of the review team; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20131/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe post project review of the Pálás Cinema project will be conducted in accordance with the Public Spending Code which is managed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Public Spending Code provides that such reviews should be undertaken once sufficient time has elapsed to allow the project to be properly evaluated with sufficient evidence of the flow of benefits/costs from it. It should be noted that while the project was completed and commenced operation in 2018, it is necessary to wait until 2019 to conduct the review to ensure that there is adequate operational data available for the analysis. This data is essential to assess the degree with which the project is meeting the objectives set for it at its outset. In line with this requirements of the Code, it is my intention that the post project review will commence in quarter one of 2019 and will be delivered within a six month timeframe.
The post project review will include the following terms of reference in respect of the review:
- the development of a logic model for the project to guide the evaluation;
- an examination of the rationale for the State’s investment in the Pálás Cinema;
- an assessment of the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of the State’s investment in the cinema based on the objectives set out for the project at its outset; and
- the identification of any learnings which may be used to improve the Department’s appraisal, management or delivery of capital projects in future.
The post project review will be conducted by the Department’s Evaluation Unit which is made up of members of the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES). It will be overseen by a Quality Assurance Group, as set out in the relevant IGEES guidance. It is intended that the members of the review team will come from within and outside the Department, including representatives with relevant expertise in the areas of evaluation, capital investment and culture.
