'They could cover the roof with the grant application forms' - Viewers react to new Room to Improve

Home improvement fans across the country settled in yesterday evening (December 7) for the newest series of Room to Improve as it returned to screens. 

The first episode follows Gráinne Murphy and Ivan Williams, who have dreamed about renovating Ivan's old family farmhouse based in Urlingford, Co Kilkenny for many years. 

Gráinne, a school and yoga teacher, and Ivan, a full time farmer, had already started renovating the exterior of their farmhouse with limestone render by the time Dermot arrived on site, leading him to comment, "They're doing everything back to front. It is literally like painting your house but you haven't started the plaster work." 

The duo managed to complete the home renovation (which included a large kitchen and living area extension) with the help of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, the Derelict Property top-up, SEAI grants, and their mortgage of just under €250,000. 

However, X (formerly Twitter) users who watched the episode had plenty to say: 

Dermot seeing the project underway before he starts #roomtoimprove pic.twitter.com/V5wEVKI8o7

— Stephen (@mcgeebers) January 7, 2024

Dermot questioning the woman’s skepticism over the house being within budget as if he hasn’t overspent on the budget for the last 15 seasons #RoomToImprove

— Sarah Beakey (@sarahbeakey) January 7, 2024

The grants are great but no one knows about them #RoomToImprove pic.twitter.com/MuDarG3Y7q

— Jamie ‍ (@theoriginal_JD) January 7, 2024

An Bord Pleanála seeing the near built house when granting permission #roomtoimprove pic.twitter.com/ktiHrPknVZ

— Stephen (@mcgeebers) January 7, 2024

Dermot in the next few mins when the roof decision hasn't been made #RoomToImprove pic.twitter.com/jbAwUc1tKH

— CROSSY (@CrossyTweets) January 7, 2024

“Throw on more grants“ he says

“There are no more!” says I#RoomToImprove pic.twitter.com/7NMQie8ujB

— Audrey FitzHagan (@AudgeFitzHagan) January 7, 2024

I dont think its right that a private building/house gets 165k in grants. Only my opinion. #roomtoimprove

— Declan Brady (@Bhoys88Brady) January 7, 2024

LOVE that overhang on the patio! #RoomToImprove pic.twitter.com/OwYUKBv2e9

— Grace O'Sullivan (@gosulli) January 7, 2024

€165,000 in government money and I can’t even rent by myself, but they want a nice big extension on the house they got for free ahahaahahaohmygodihatethishahaha
#RoomToImprove https://t.co/r8botLlJiU

— Dearbhla Duff (@DearbhlaDuff) January 7, 2024

When @DermotBannon is told that the Budget is a figure well below the one he prices up… @rte #roomtoimprove pic.twitter.com/BUPObiXjOc

— Gary Rothery (@GarRodders) January 7, 2024

They could cover the roof with the grant applications forms. Certainly be enough of them! #RoomToImprove

— Anthony O'Donovan (@anthonyodonovan) January 7, 2024

Really delighted to see people with a genuine budget and a challenging house they love… it can be done… having a husband who’s handy with a kango helps mind #roomtoimprove

— Deirdre O'Shaughnessy (@deshocks) January 7, 2024

Dermot: they're in an awful
Panic about the money & I don't know why?
Me: maybe it's cos you've gone over budget on every other project and they know that #roomtoimprove

— Allie B (@a_dub_in_cork) January 7, 2024

Nice people deserve a nice house. #RoomToImprove

— Philip Nolan (@philipnolan1) January 7, 2024

Another Dermot masterpiece
Wishing lovely couple well#RoomToImprove pic.twitter.com/8R3Hg30rOh

— Dr. Eddie Murphy (@dreddiemurphy) January 7, 2024

The Kilkenny restoration and extension project on Room To Improve turned out to be stunning, as are all of the projects undertaken, but amazingly when it came to announcing the final cost and how much over budget it ran, silence #RoomToImprove pic.twitter.com/wFTFI8ynYH

— Eamon Fitzpatrick (@fitzpatrickeamo) January 7, 2024

It’s back!!!!!!! Love looking at renovations I could never afford #roomtoimprove

— Sylvia Murphy (@sylvmcn) January 7, 2024

They don't have the exact final budget figure yet....ah stop lads! #RoomToImprove

— Niall Murphy (@niall_t_murphy) January 7, 2024

Images: RTÉ/Room to Improve