National Gallery of Ireland's €125k scanner 'expected to come into use' this year

The National Gallery of Ireland is now exploring the scanner's use as a 'mobile unit on-site' with the Environmental Protection Agency. File picture

The National Gallery of Ireland has said its controversial €125k scanner is “expected to come into use" this year — however, no disclosure on it being unused came in any of its annual reports until the most recent published this week.

Cabinet heard details this week of the purchase of the scanner in 2017 with taxpayers' money despite the gallery not having the space to house it. In the Dáil, Taoiseach Micheál Martin called it “incomprehensible” and “unacceptable”.