Cost of unused x-ray machine at National Gallery trebles, Dáil committee told

An unused x-ray machine at the National Gallery of Ireland is set to cost €346,000 to be made operational — nearly three times its initial cost — the Public Accounts Committee has heard.

An unused x-ray machine at the National Gallery of Ireland is set to cost €346,000 to be made operational — nearly three times its initial cost — the Public Accounts Committee has heard.

At a hearing on Thursday which focused heavily on the lack of procurement and IT expertise at both the Arts Council and the National Gallery of Ireland, it emerged the x-ray machine — first procured in 2017 — will finally become operational once installed in a bespoke lead-lined cabinet, which is currently under construction, at the end of this year at an additional cost of more than €222,000. The unplanned-for expenditure will be paid from the gallery’s own resources.