Leinster House has shelled out more than €2.1million of taxpayers’ money on printing and equipment in just 18 months.
Figures obtained by the Irish Mirror under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act show last year, €1,378,000 was spent on new machinery.
A further €819,000 was spent on the “normal printing” of documents last year and for the first six months of 2019.
Meanwhile, another FOI has revealed the Dail and Seanad spent just over €42,000 on recycling in 19 months – and just over €14,000 in 2017.
That figure includes the costs of confidential shredding of documents.
It comes after the Dail’s most senior official yesterday launched an investigation into how colleagues spent €1million on a state-of-the-art printer that could not fit into the building and had to be placed in costly storage.
Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane, who sits on the Public Accounts Committee, said the money spent on printing is concerning given the current fight against climate change.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror last night, he added: “The figures do seem to be quite substantial when there is a focus on climate action and reduction. We will have the accounting officer back before the Public Accounts Committee to answer questions in relation to the printer.
“I think we can ask those questions as well in relation to the wider printing costs and are we getting value for money?
“I think now that we know more in terms of the printer issue and the physical cost of printing paper and infrastructure for the Oireachtas, I think money can be saved.
“The amount of money spent does shock me, it’s a very high cost. It is concerning that that is the overall cost.
“We had the clerk of the Dail before the PAC and we asked some of those questions.
“The problem is the answers weren’t forthcoming as they should have been in my opinion.”
Mr Cullinane said despite the level of staff within the Oireachtas, a breakdown is needed on what exactly is being printed and what can be done to reduce those costs.
He added: “Can we print less and use more electronic forms of communication? I think that is something that definitely needs to be looked at.”
