PAC to meet with officials from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and representatives from the Arts Council and the National Gallery

The meeting will take place on Thursday May 29th in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House at 10:30am. 
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy John Brady said: “We welcome the opportunity to examine spending by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the National Gallery and the Arts Council."

“The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has gross expenditure of €1.1 billion in 2023 across its five areas of responsibility which covered tourism, arts and culture, Gaeltacht, sports and recreation.”

“Areas of interest to the Committee include the Department’s spending on Arts and culture, which was €347 million in 2023 (2022: €367 million) and accounts for 31% of the Departments overall expenditure in 2023.”

“We will be asking what the Department’s oversight arrangements in relation to the Arts Council’s ‘IT transformation’ project. Earlier this year, the Government ordered an external review of governance and culture into the Arts Council, after it was found that €6.5million was spent by the body on an unsuccessful IT system. The overspend was uncovered by the Comptroller and Auditor General.” 

“The Department allocated nearly €6.4 million for ‘major sports events’ in 2023 and spent €5.8 million. Following its last meeting with the PAC, we will ask what expenditure the Department has incurred to date in relation to hosting the 2027 Ryder Cup.”

“A special supplementary estimate was introduced late in 2023 to provide ‘interim funding’ of €16 million to RTÉ. An analysis of RTÉ’s funding needs undertaken by NewERA recommended €56 million in funding, including the interim €16 million in 2023, with the balance to be provided in 2024. We will ask if any of this funding has been set aside to cover it voluntary redundancy schemes within RTE.”

“The C&AG provided a clear audit opinion on the National Gallery’s 2023 financial statements but drew attention to ineffective expenditure on an X-ray machine. In 2017 the National Gallery acquired an x-ray system at a cost of just under €125,000 to provide for non-destructive examination of painting/collection items. This system has not been used to-date because a suitable location is not available in the Gallery’s premises to accommodate its safe operation.  We will examine what options the Gallery is exploring to bring the system into use.”

PAC is a standing committee of Dáil Éireann which focuses on ensuring public services are run efficiently and achieve value for money. Further information on the role and remit of the Committee can be found here.

Watch the meeting live here of or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android.