The President's establishment spent £72,000 less on travel and subsistence than was budgeted for in 1997 because there was no President between August and November that year. A further £11,000 in postal and telecommunications was saved between the date of the resignation of Mrs Mary Robinson and the November election of Mrs Mary McAleese.
Aras an Uachtarain last year. This spending had not been envisaged until this year. Overall the President's establishment spent £20,200 less than was budgeted for in 1997.