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13/11/2013
Lyric Theatre Contract 'Flawed'
The £11m contact to rebuild the Lyric Theatre in Belfast was "significantly flawed", a report has found.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has found that the awarding of the contract may have been "rigged", and has criticised the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), the Arts Council and the Department of Finance's Central Procurement Directorate (CPD).
The report examined a total of seven capital projects, including the rebuilding of the Lyric Theatre.
DCAL and the Arts Council provided 84% or £87.4m of the investment for the seven projects.
The cost of the rebuild of the Belfast theatre was £17.8m, £5m over the initial estimate.
DCAL paid £12.2m of the bill.
The committee found a number of "unexplained adjustments" were made to the tender submissions for the Lyric, which meant that the most expensive tender, Gilbert Ash, was awarded the contract.
The report said this "is not normal practice".
Finance Minister Simon Hamilton said: "In the case of the Lyric Theatre this project was grant funded and therefore it was not managed or procured by CPD. The project was actually managed and the contractor procured by consultants appointed by the Lyric Theatre. The consultants had full responsibility for assessing tenders and for awarding the contract. It is therefore a matter of serious concern to me that these external professional advisers were not able to demonstrate to the Northern Ireland Audit Office that they had applied best practice.
"As Finance Minister, I am very much aware of how critical it is that best practice procurement and project management are applied to the delivery of projects if value for money is to be achieved.
"The key to this is ensuring that the right expertise is deployed to make informed decisions throughout the project lifecycle. This PAC report recognises that there is a wealth of technical advice available to departments through CPD."
(IT/JP)
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has found that the awarding of the contract may have been "rigged", and has criticised the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), the Arts Council and the Department of Finance's Central Procurement Directorate (CPD).
The report examined a total of seven capital projects, including the rebuilding of the Lyric Theatre.
DCAL and the Arts Council provided 84% or £87.4m of the investment for the seven projects.
The cost of the rebuild of the Belfast theatre was £17.8m, £5m over the initial estimate.
DCAL paid £12.2m of the bill.
The committee found a number of "unexplained adjustments" were made to the tender submissions for the Lyric, which meant that the most expensive tender, Gilbert Ash, was awarded the contract.
The report said this "is not normal practice".
Finance Minister Simon Hamilton said: "In the case of the Lyric Theatre this project was grant funded and therefore it was not managed or procured by CPD. The project was actually managed and the contractor procured by consultants appointed by the Lyric Theatre. The consultants had full responsibility for assessing tenders and for awarding the contract. It is therefore a matter of serious concern to me that these external professional advisers were not able to demonstrate to the Northern Ireland Audit Office that they had applied best practice.
"As Finance Minister, I am very much aware of how critical it is that best practice procurement and project management are applied to the delivery of projects if value for money is to be achieved.
"The key to this is ensuring that the right expertise is deployed to make informed decisions throughout the project lifecycle. This PAC report recognises that there is a wealth of technical advice available to departments through CPD."
(IT/JP)
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14 November 2013
DCAL Minister Responds To Lyric 'Rigging' Report
Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín has released a statement following a publishing of a report that said the £11m contract to rebuild the Lyric Theatre in Belfast was "significantly flawed". The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report examined the management of seven capital projects during the 2008-11 Programme for Government.
DCAL Minister Responds To Lyric 'Rigging' Report
Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín has released a statement following a publishing of a report that said the £11m contract to rebuild the Lyric Theatre in Belfast was "significantly flawed". The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report examined the management of seven capital projects during the 2008-11 Programme for Government.
23 July 2012
Lyric Theatre Shortlisted For Architecture Prize
A new £18m theatre in Belfast has been short-listed for the 2012 Stirling Prize in architecture. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) put the new Lyric Theatre in the running for the £20,000 prize, alongside London's Olympic Stadium and Maggie's cancer centre in Glasgow.
Lyric Theatre Shortlisted For Architecture Prize
A new £18m theatre in Belfast has been short-listed for the 2012 Stirling Prize in architecture. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) put the new Lyric Theatre in the running for the £20,000 prize, alongside London's Olympic Stadium and Maggie's cancer centre in Glasgow.
20 May 2010
New Lyric Lays Solid Foundation
As Belfast's iconic Lyric Theatre continues its run of plays in its temporary home at the Elmwood Hall, a major milestone has (literally - given the literary inscription) been passed. The laying of the old Lyric Theatre's foundation stone in the new theatre, (also being built on the original Ridgeway Street location) has taken place.
New Lyric Lays Solid Foundation
As Belfast's iconic Lyric Theatre continues its run of plays in its temporary home at the Elmwood Hall, a major milestone has (literally - given the literary inscription) been passed. The laying of the old Lyric Theatre's foundation stone in the new theatre, (also being built on the original Ridgeway Street location) has taken place.
17 August 2011
Lyric's Launches Theatre School
NI's Lyric Theatre is launching a year-round training programme called Theatre School in September offering a suite of drama programmes for budding thespians. No previous experience is required and entry into each programme is set by age.
Lyric's Launches Theatre School
NI's Lyric Theatre is launching a year-round training programme called Theatre School in September offering a suite of drama programmes for budding thespians. No previous experience is required and entry into each programme is set by age.
19 June 2008
Lyric Stoops To Conquer
Thanks in large part to a Belfast City Council investment of ₤1.25m the demolition of Belfast's Lyric Theatre later today is a new start - and not the end of the iconic south Belfast stage - which though bowed is set to rise again in less than two years time.
Lyric Stoops To Conquer
Thanks in large part to a Belfast City Council investment of ₤1.25m the demolition of Belfast's Lyric Theatre later today is a new start - and not the end of the iconic south Belfast stage - which though bowed is set to rise again in less than two years time.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A cold but bright and largely dry day, the best sunny spells in southern counties. A few wintry showers, mainly in the north, these mostly in the morning. Maximum temperature 3 °C.Tonight:A dry evening and start to the night with clear spells. Cloud increases across the north in the early hours with some showers. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
