SIMON Harris was painted red with “absolute fury” today following another art scandal that saw the National Gallery splash €125,000 on a scanner that they can’t use.
It comes as the new Arts Minister Patrick O’Donovan launched an external review of the Arts Council after it emerged last month that almost €7 million was wasted on an IT system that did not work.
The Cabinet was today briefed on the annual accounts of the National Gallery of Ireland which included details of the botched purchase of an X-ray scanner that has never been used.
The x-ray system was purchased for €124,805 in November 2017 and has never been used by the Gallery because they have nowhere to put it.
Gallery bosses purchased the scanner in order to examine paintings in a non-destructive way.
However, the scanner requires lead lining to act as a radiation shield in the room it is located.
After buying the scanner, Gallery officials then realised that there was no room that would be able to bear the weight of this equipment.
Some parts of the scanner are now being stored at the Gallery while the main component is still being stored with the supplier.
Tanaiste Simon Harris said he reacted with “absolute fury” when he heard of the latest money scandal to hit the Department of Arts.
He said: “It is really important that the people who are paid to run these institutions come out and talk to the Irish people in relation to these issues.
CALL FOR ANSWERS
“Government provides money to state agencies, they do very good work but they are also accountable for the spend of that money so the first thing I want to do today is hear from the Minister in relation to this.
“Then I’m quite sure that people will want to hear from the national gallery itself.
“We’ve worked very hard as a government, as taxpayers to increase vital funding into areas like the arts but we have now seen three very significant issues arising within one government department – RTE, the Arts Council and the National Gallery and that does raise serious control issues.”
Taoiseach Micheal Martin also called on the National Gallery to explain the purchase of the scanner which he said “seems to be very difficult to explain.”
A spokesperson for the National Gallery told the Irish Sun: “X-ray facilities are used by most major galleries and museums and are considered an important tool for collection research and care.
NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE
“The Gallery has been working with the relevant experts and stakeholders to bring the system into operation and has identified a preferred solution.”
The Cabinet were briefed on the issue on the same day that Arts Minister Patrick O’Donovan launched an external review into spending at the Arts Council after they wasted almost €7 million on an IT system that was not fit for purpose.
Three independent experts were appointed to probe the Arts Council which received €140 million in State funding for 2025.
A separate review is underway into the Department of Arts internal governance with the Minister ordering all department bodies to provide details of any project that cost over €500,000 that failed or was abandoned.
