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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
National
Rachel Curran

RTE Room To Improve: Viewers react to quantity surveyor after Dermot Bannon budget shock

RTE's Room To Improve returned last night to Irish TV screens, and quantity surveyor Claire Irwin is also back.

Claire made her debut on the show back in 2019, and has often been left with the difficult task of reigning in Dermot Bannon's spending.

But last night viewers were left in shock after Dermot came €10,000 under budget on a house in Dublin.

Twitter went wild after Dermot revealed to clients Lisa and Marc that he had money to spare with his design for the Kilmacud home.

One Twitter user wrote: "10 GRAND UNDER BUDGET?! I was not expecting that! #RoomToImprove"

Another wrote: "€10K under budget. That has to be a first for #roomtoimprove "

While a third commented: "Shock opener on #RoomToImprove as first house comes in under budget. Disgusted tbh, Dermot."

Meanwhile, fans were glad to see Claire back on the show to keep Dermot in check.

Claire recently told the Irish Daily Mirror on what it's like to work on the show with Dermot.

“Ah it can be very, very challenging. We have our moments now, don’t get me wrong," said Claire.

“You know Dermot is full of bright ideas and he just wants the best for the home owner and for the finished house, but sometimes he just doesn’t have the same regard that I would have for the budget.

“So I just have to reign him in when those occasions happen, which is frequent enough. But then we get back in line, we agree this is what we are doing.

“We have our budgets for X, Y and Z. And then there is curve balls again and more excitement from Dermot. So Dermot is a challenge to manage also.”

She admitted: “At the beginning, the first day or two it was a bit daunting.

“You are conscious the cameras are there and following you but you get used to it very quickly. Surprisingly quickly.

“There is a transition period getting to know everyone but Dermot is very easy to get on with."

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