The scandal surrounding the National Gallery’s €120,000-plus scanner is shocking but not surprising, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly.
Deputy Farrelly, who is the party’s arts spokesperson, said:
“It’s sadly no longer a surprise to hear another huge sum of money has been wasted by a State organisation – this time, €120,000 on a scanner purchased by the National Gallery – with no oversight or accountability from government.
“Both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste have laid the blame squarely at the feet of the National Gallery. However, slapping the wrist of offending organisations is meaningless when departmental oversight structures are either deeply flawed or entirely absent.
“The Public Accounts Committee must reconvene as soon as possible to address these issues head-on. A lack of due diligence within several government departments is going unchecked in the absence of the Committee’s oversight.
“In the meantime, the Minister for the Office of Public Works has urgent questions to answer:
“Was the OPW consulted before the scanner was purchased; what was the role of the OPW in finding a solution for the placement of the scanner; and were any proposals – like locating it offsite – ever considered?
“It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time a state organisation has spent huge sums on equipment it couldn’t house. In 2019, it was revealed the Oireachtas had spent more than €2 million on a printer. Incredibly, it now transpires the OPW were dealing with these two fiascos at the same time.
“Ultimately, it’s time for government ministers to stop passing the buck and do something about the enormous waste of public money that has now become a feature of successive Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil governments.”
February 25, 2025