A special scanner, purchased by Ireland’s National Gallery for over €120,000 nearly eight years ago, remains unused due to the inability to find a suitable room for the equipment. This issue is expected to be discussed at the Cabinet meeting today, as Minister for Arts Patrick O’Donovan presents the annual report of the National Gallery to the Government.

Privately, ministers are frustrated that another historic spending issue has arisen at the Department of Arts, Tourism and Sport. The x-ray system, valued at €124,805, was purchased in November 2017 as part of the Digital Investigative Imaging Project. The equipment was described as essential to the process of examining the gallery’s paintings in a non-destructive way.

Since 2018, the National Gallery has collaborated with the Office of Public Works (OPW) to find a suitable location for the scanner, but concerns about the “load-bearing capacity” of possible locations due to the weight of the scanner have hindered progress. A tender issued in November 2018 received only one bid, which was non-compliant.

The Gallery is now exploring the possibility of using the scanner as a “mobile unit on-site,” which could come into use later this year. This situation follows a recent external review of governance and culture at The Arts Council, ordered by the Government after the Comptroller and Auditor General found that €7 million was spent by the body on an unsuccessful IT system.

Government Seeks to Allocate €50 Million for Cross-Border Projects

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris will seek cabinet approval for more than €50 million towards cross-border projects. The Government has committed to increasing the Shared Island Fund by a further €1 billion up to 2035. Some €510.4 million was allocated from the fund between 2020-2024.

Up to €57 million will now be set aside for five new projects. These include €23 million for a tourism ‘Shared Destination’ project, a €20 million contribution for arts, culture, and heritage initiatives, €4 million for the next phase of the Shared Island Civic Society Fund, and €10 million towards a new nature restoration programme.

There will be a €6 million investment in the Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark in Cavan and Fermanagh to link existing trails north and south of the border. Another €6 million will deliver a network of trails and water access points across the Carlingford Lough region, while the same amount will help develop 73km of connected cross-border trails around Sliabh Beagh Mountain along the border.

Minister for Arts Patrick O’Donovan will oversee a new €10 million Shared Island Cultural Fund to increase cooperation on the island, while the Tánaiste will progress the second phase of the Shared Island Civic Society Fund.

Plan for Ireland to Hold EU Presidency

Separately, Mr. Harris will brief the Cabinet on the extensive planning under way for Ireland to hold the EU presidency in the second half of next year. With less than 500 days before Ireland’s EU presidency begins, the Tánaiste will tell the Cabinet that it will be an opportunity for Ireland to shape the EU agenda and present the country on the global stage at a time of major geopolitical change.

The Tánaiste will tell ministers that holding the presidency is essential for Ireland’s position, influence, and reputation in the EU and for advancing the Union’s agenda. He will also ask ministers to agree that Ireland offers to host a summit of the European Political Community (EPC), the intergovernmental forum for political and strategic discussions about the future of Europe that was established after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, during its presidency next year.

This will involve up to 47 Heads of state and government from across the European continent coming to Ireland next year and, if the offer is taken up, the summit will take place around the same time as an informal meeting of the European Council involving the 27 EU heads of state and government.

Ministers will be told that extensive preparatory work will be required across all government departments for the presidency and that Ireland will now step up its engagement at all levels with EU institutions and member states. Ministers are to be encouraged to visit European Parliament sessions in Strasbourg and Brussels in the months ahead.

Ireland will hold the presidency between July 1 and December 31, 2026. It will be the eighth time the country has held the presidency and the first time since 2013.

Government to Boost Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities

The Government is aiming to boost employment opportunities for people with disabilities as part of an effort to provide greater support for those living with a disability. This plan was discussed last night at a meeting chaired by the Taoiseach, which was attended by the ministers for Health, Children, Education, Higher Education, Transport, and Social Protection.

The Government is pledging to deliver what it calls a step change in disability services, which will be overseen by a new Disability Unit. This unit will appoint people with external expertise to improve services. It will seek to find employment for people living with a disability, and the public service will lead the way in this area, but there will be private sector participation too.

There is also likely to be a move to cut down on the administrative red tape around the recruitment of therapists from Britain. More disabled access on trains and buses across the public transport system has also been identified as a key priority.

Further Controversy Over Spending in the Arts Sector

Further controversy over spending in the arts sector is expected to cause a stir at Cabinet. This time the focus will be on a scanner purchased by the National Gallery, which does not fit in a room. Privately, ministers are angered that another historic spending issue has arisen at the Department of Arts, Tourism and Sport. It follows on from the recently announced review into spending at the Arts Council.

This situation highlights the broader challenges faced by cultural institutions in managing high-cost equipment and ensuring its effective use. In the United States, similar issues have been documented, such as the National Archives’ struggle to digitize historical documents due to technological limitations and budget constraints. The National Gallery’s situation underscores the need for better planning and resource allocation in cultural preservation efforts.