'Where does it stop?' - People outraged by the National Gallery's €124,000 unused scanner

Once again, the Government is faced with another scandal regarding the money spent on a special scanner for the National Gallery, just months after the notorious Dáil bike shed debacle. 

It has emerged that a special scanner purchased almost eight years ago for €124,805 has still not been used as the National Gallery has not been able to find a suitable room to store the piece of equipment. 

The x-ray system was bought by the National Gallery in November 2017 as part of the Digital Investigative Imaging Project. It is said that it is essential to the process of examining precious paintings in a non-destructive way. However, it is yet to actually be used. 

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The issue with storing the scanner is that it required lead lining in the room it was to be located which is used for radiation shielding. The National Gallery was unable to provide this due to concerns over the load bearing capacity of its rooms. 

Tánaiste Simon Harris has reacted to the costly revelation, saying: "I think my reaction to this is the same as the reaction that every person will have right across this country, which is one of absolute fury." He said that it is important that people are "held accountable."

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin added that the situation is "incomprehensible." He said: "It is very difficult to explain that, why someone would embark upon the purchase of a scanner that they didn't have a facility to locate it in." The Taoiseach continued to say that the National Gallery is a "prized institution" but an explanation from them is needed. 

As expected, there has been widespread outrage and frustration with the revelation, with people commenting online that there is "no accountability" and that the Government "doesn't care."

Others have said that they've seen it all before such as in 2019 when the infamous Dáil printer that cost the state over €2 million in total couldn't even fit into the room it was bought for. Meanwhile, some reminded people: "Don't forget the Dáil bike shed!"

As this scanner serves as another shocking revelation in a long list of overpriced purchases by the Government in recent years, one person summed up what many people are thinking: "This is getting behind ridiculous at this stage."