Refurbishment work on part of the Dublin Castle complex cost the State £2.38 million more than expected, according to the report. A budget of £10 million was provided for work on buildings at Ship Street and the garden and coach house at the castle. However, unexpected costs drove the eventual bill up to £12,386,000. The Office Of Public Works told the Comptroller that "the outturn was very satisfactory" given the state of the buildings when the project began, the "magnificent" restoration work involved, and the overall cost per square metre of the project. During 1994 and 1995, as the work progressed, contractors found that some of the nine buildings in Ship Street were in far worse condition than had been anticipated.
A further difficulty arose when ceilings of the buildings collapsed. However, the contractor involved "accepted that the collapse arose due to the nails used not conforming to specification and stated that the cost of repairs would be borne by the supplier". The Comptroller reports that the Department of Finance complained of not being consulted as the work on the castle progressed. However, the OPW said that there was ongoing contact with the Department.