8. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the precise date on which his Department was first made aware of problems with the IT project of the Arts Council; if he is satisfied with the decision by his Department’s officials not to inform the then Minister or Secretary General of the problems and the associated financial loss of almost €7 million; who is being held responsible for this waste; and what the consequences, if any, will be. [10183/25]

Sentiment score: -0.22

This question relates to the Arts Council and the IT project. I am trying to find out, once and for all, when the Department was informed of problems with it, who is being held responsible and what the consequences are. This comes on foot of several questions I posed to the Minister previously to which I never received a full answer.

Sentiment score: -0.03

I thank the Minister. I welcome the review and while I am not trying to pre-empt its findings, at the end of the day, the Minister himself just mentioned that, in April 2021, the project was "tracking red" or flagged. Somebody, somewhere did not inform the Minister. Who was responsible? Who was liaising with the Arts Council? Who in the Arts Council was meant to liaise with the Department? It should not take a review to come up with the person or persons responsible and why they did not act at that stage, when deadlines were not being reached or going to be reached or when, in 2021 and before, it was indicated there was a need to increase the funding to deliver the project. This is what seemed to be indicated at that stage. Who is responsible at this stage?

Sentiment score: 0.21

There is also a question as to whether the Arts Council itself, or any such State organisation, should be responsible for such an IT project or whether the projects should be centralised. This is another question. When will the review be completed? The Minister made the point that not much of this project can be retrieved. What can be retrieved? Is there any indication at this early stage of how much money can be retrieved? What are the consequences? Will this colossal waste of taxpayers' money, which could have been well spent on other projects or even properly spent on this project, have consequences? In particular, this was aimed at artists and making it easy for artists to interact with the Arts Council. They are down because they do not have this system. They do not have the computerisation system they want to be able to access the Arts Council.

Sentiment score: 0.06

I agree with Deputy Geoghegan on this matter. Many derelict sites in this city could be used not just for artistic purposes but also for allotments. We need to look at that and ensure that, somehow or other, we incentivise those who are hoarding land in this city to make use of it. First of all it should be used for residential property, but if a project is delayed for a year or two, we should be able to find uses for these buildings and ensure that artists in particular can find the space, which they do not have at the moment, to practise their crafts.

Sentiment score: 0.26

14. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an aithneoidh sé go bhfuil géarchéim ar leith ag cur le bánú na Gaeltachta mar thoradh ar easpa tithíochta; an ndéanfaidh sé dáta agus sonraí a thabhairt maidir leis an bplé deireanach a bhí ag a Roinn leis an Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta maidir leis na treoirlínte don phleanáil sa Ghaeltacht a bhí geallta faoin Rialtas deireanach; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [10184/25]

Sentiment score: 0.00

Tá an cheist seo dírithe ar cheist a d'ardaigh mo chomhghleacaí, an Teachta Conor D. McGuinness, cheana féin maidir leis an ngéarchéim tithíochta. Is é an chéad rud ná le haithint go bhfuil géarchéim ann. Má aithníonn an Rialtas é sin, cad atá na hAirí ag déanamh maidir leis an gceist seo? Chuala mé an freagra a thug sé níos luaithe, ach sa chás seo, céard iad na dátaí agus na sonraí maidir leis an gcaidreamh idir an dá Roinn le tamall de bhlianta anuas ó thaobh treoirlínte pleanála?

Sentiment score: -0.14

Déanann sé sin beagáinín níos soiléire agus b'fhéidir beagáinín níos doiléire é. Thar na blianta, chuir mé an cheist seo ar an Aire go minic, agus, i gceart dó, thug sé freagra lom amach dom ar an gceist seo maidir leis an moill i gcónaí agus cuireadh an milleán ar an Roinn tithíochta. Ansin, chuir mé an cheist ar an Aire, an Teachta Ó Brien, a bhí i gceannas ar thithíocht ag an am, agus chuir sé an milleán ar ais ar an Aire. Tá sé ag dul siar agus ar ais agus b'fhéidir go bhfuil an t-ádh ar an Aire anois nach mbeidh na feidhmeanna seo air agus is féidir leis an Aire, an Teachta Calleary, an freagra céanna a thabhairt dom. Sin mar dealraíonn sé ag don dream atá ag féachaint isteach ar an áit seo - go bhfuil Aire amháin ag cur an mhilleáin ar an Aire eile. Sa deireadh thiar thall, dúradh linn in 2021 go mbeidh siad seo foilsithe sár i bhfad, agus anois faigheann muid freagra nua gach sé mhí. Cad é an dáta a shíleann an tAire a mbeidh siad foilsithe?

Sentiment score: -0.16

Aithním go bhfuil spéis ar leith ag an Aire, an Teachta Calleary, sa cheist seo. Bhí sé ar an gcoiste nuair a bhíomar ag déanamh plé ar an gceist seo tamall de bhlianta ó shin. Tá súil agam go n-éireoidh leis. Is trua go bhfuilimid ag an stad ina bhfuilimid, go bhfuilimid trí nó ceithre bliana imithe ón uair a dúradh go mbeadh na treoirlínte seo againn. Ní thógann sé sin ón bhfadhb atá ann. Caithfimid bogadh air seo agus a bheith cinnte. In ainneoin nach mbeidh an dualgas seo ar an Aire, an Teachta O'Donovan, tá dualgas air mar is Aire Rialtais é. Caithfimid déanamh cinnte de go mbeidh sé seo ag tarlú, ní i gceann sé mhí nó sin, mar níl anseo ach na treoirlínte, ansin caithfear díriú isteach ar an údarás, ar Uisce Éireann agus ar na bainc nó aon duine chun an t-airgead a chur ar fáil gur féidir le daoine tithe a thógáil i gceantair Ghaeltachta.

Sentiment score: -0.16