Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

I still question why a building was not bought. We hope the Passport Office in Cork will be there for ever more. There is a need for one. In regard to the idea that we would lock ourselves into a 20-year lease, which, in time, will have to be renewed, I would question the value for public money of that.

I will turn to another issue that was highlighted in a newspaper article during the summer. It relates to lighting at the National Gallery of Ireland and over €200,000 having been spent between 2019 and 2023. It seems work undertaken in 2021 and 2023. Is there a problem with the lighting? Why is so much funding required to maintain the lighting at the National Gallery? It does not have a stellar record in terms of public funding. I am thinking of the x-ray machine. This is an important issue that needs to be raised.