Light touch? Central Bank’s €130k on fixture
TAXPAYERS might take a dim view of the Central Bank’s new light fitting – which cost €130,000.
The €140million building on the city’s North Wall Quay has already raised eyebrows due to its eyecatching, gold-coloured pannelling, which it says boosts the building’s energy performance.
Acclaimed artist, Niamh Barry has designed the light piece which is located in the reception area of the HQ and is available for all visitors to view.
Along with this, as part of the planning conditions, the Bank is involved in a procurement process for a separate art work in the north east corner of the North Wall Quay site.
A spokeswoman for the Central Bank said yesterday that the cost of the light fitting is ‘in the region of €130,000 plus VAT’.
The latest figures from the Central Bank detailing the spend on the project show that €127million was spent on the project to the end of March this year.
The detailed breakdown shows that €2.26million was spent on ‘meeting room furniture and loose furniture’. The main contractor, Walls Construction was paid €71million. Architectural firm, HJ Lyons has been paid €4million.
The Central Bank has pointed out that there is a requirement with all large public infrastructure projects to include an artistic work of value in the respective schemes.