The Department of Tourism has carried out two studies of the charity that runs St Patrick’s Festival in Dublin following concerns raised over its effectiveness and governance.
Officials have declined to release the resulting reports on the basis that publication could “jeopardise” talks about reforming the event.
The festival is now a four to five-day series of arts and performance events which costs €2 million each year. It is organised by Feilte Dhuibh Linne Cuideachta Faoi Theorainn Rathaiochta, a charity, and most of the funding comes from Failte Ireland (€950,000 in 2020) and Dublin city council (€358,000).
Until 2019 the council had a director on the festival company’s board but it did not nominate a replacement after a job move.
The festival’s 2020 accounts show that it had five staff, with one paid €80,000 to €90,000. Of its income of €1.67 million, €1.5 million came from public grants.
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The Sunday Times used the Freedom of Information Act to ask the department to supply a 2019 report by EY, the professional services group, on the festival company, as well as a later 2020 report by the Institute of Public Affairs. The request was refused.
The first report is said to have examined whether the festival’s method of delivery was fit for purpose, while the second examined governance issues. It is understood there was concern that the focus of the festival’s expenditure had moved away from the parade in Dublin.
In its FOI decision, the department said both reports contained opinions, advice and recommendations “that are central to ongoing careful deliberations [to agree] the best approach to ensuring the smooth, effective and efficient delivery of the annual festival”.
The department said the process had been delayed by the pandemic. “It would not be in the public interest to release these records while these important deliberations are ongoing,” it said. “This could potentially . . . harm the chances of agreeing the optimum outcome.”
The festival’s 2020 accounts said it had a “reasonable expectation” of having the resources to continue for 12 months. Given projected lower ticket sales, the festival’s board sought and received assurance of continued funding.
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The accounts said the festival had yet to comply with the governance requirement for community organisations.
“A particular focus this year was establishment of more robust reporting procedures . . . and a review of codes and standards of practice to which the charity subscribes,” it said. “The decision to begin the process of adopting the code was made in July 2017.”
