Arts Minister rejects Arts Council director's contract renewal

The Arts Council expressed deep regret over the Minister for Arts' decision not to renew the director's contract, despite a board recommendation for a five-year extension. Minister Patrick O’Donovan declined to wait for an external review of a €6.75 million IT project before deciding against renewing Maureen Kennelly's contract, offering only a nine-month extension, which she rejected. The council had requested the contract decision be deferred until the review's conclusion. The decision follows a government review into the council's operations after the failed IT project. Kennelly and the council chairwoman are scheduled to appear before a committee today to address the controversy.