The extra amount required under this Vote is made up first of all under Sub-head B., "New Works, Alterations and Additions," which accounts for £28,000. As the estimate has to be made about fifteen months in advance, the figure of estimated expenditure is only an approximate one. It is subject to many varying factors; for example, consultations have to be held with the various Departments interested, plans have to be prepared, specifications and quantities where necessary made out, the capacity of the contractor and the weather conditions taken into account. All these varying factors account oftentimes for variations in the amount of the estimate. In this particular case these factors were favourable and as a result of that we over-expended the Vote. The second item is made up under sub-head B.B.1. That amount, £1,600, is for the transference of a very interesting archæological monument, St. Molua's Oratory, which would have been completely submerged as a result of the flooding under the Shannon scheme were it not removed. Very strong representations were made to the Government that this work should be undertaken, and accordingly it was done at a cost of £1,600.
The next item, B.B.2, is a result of the adaptation and renovation of the new residence for the Papal Nuncio. Rather heavy expenditure had to be incurred in this case for the laying of electrical cables. A chapel had to be built, furniture had to be procured and generally pretty extensive repairs had to be undertaken in the residence. There is also an item under Sub-head E. for rents. As a result of not leaving a sufficient margin we found that rents amounted to £2,000 more this year than we had anticipated. This additional expense is set off by Appropriations-in-Aid to the extent of £6,670 and also by anticipated savings under other sub-heads amounting to £19,000, leaving a net total of £9,130.
