The Office of Public Works (OPW) Press Office has replied to my questions regarding the missing art items from Leinster House.
Predictably, none of my questions were actually answered. Instead I got a generalized overview of how the OPW handles public works of art.
Dear Mr. Sheridan,
I refer to your below e mail.
The art works located throughout the buildings in the Leinster House complex are from the State Art Collection.
By its nature, the State Art Collection is mobile.
The works circulate from building to building and inventory keeping is an integral part of day-to-day collection management.
The art works are placed on loan to many buildings throughout the country and locations are routinely checked.
There are over 15,000 art works in the State collection located in thousands of rooms in hundreds of public buildings.
Works that are not located during a routine inventory check are not necessarily missing. In most cases, these works have simply been moved to a different location within a building.
The staff from the OPW Art Management Office work closely with building managers in other State properties on a regular basis.
An inventory check is taking place in Leinster House at present in co-operation with staff there.
I hope the above is of assistance to you.
Regards,