Seventy-eighth annual report of the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, with appendices, 1909-10

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1909-1910.] 
COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC WORKS IN IRELAND. 
9 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD OFFICES. 
In addition to renting a house last year—No. 
1 Beresford Place-—to provide accommodation for the increase of the staff rendered necessary by the extra duties devolving on the Department under the Labourers Act of 1906, further premises had to be secured this year to meet the requirements of the additional staff necessitated by the-passing of the Old Age Pensions Act. 
Suitable houses in Great Brunswick Street, in the vicinity of the Custom House, have been leased, and the Old Age Pension Branch has been transferred thereto. 

LEGAL DEPARTMENTS. 

Law Library. 
The Plenum system of heating and ventilation has been installed. 
It was in operation during the past winter, and has proved satisfactory both as regards evenness of temperature and purity of air. 

POST OFFICE BUILDINGS. 
Dublin and Belfast General Post Oeeices. 
The extensions of these buildings are in progress, vide appendix A, page 30. 

LABOUR EXCHANGES. 
The Labour Exchanges Act passed during the year necessitated the provision of buildings in several of the large towns suitable for Labour Exchanges. 
First Class Labour Exchanges were provided in Dublin and Belfast, a Second Class Exchange in Cork, and Third Class Exchanges in Limerick and "Waterford. 
All the Exchanges are provided with waiting rooms for both sexes seeking employment, and with office accommodation for the managers and clerical staff. 
The Board were able to secure existing buildings for the purpose, but very considerable structural alterations had to be made to render the premises suitable. 
Some difficulty arose in the negotiations for the leases, but matters were satisfactorily settled, and the leases were completed in all cases. 
Temporary buildings have been taken in Dublin, but it is proposed that the landlord shall build permanent offices in proximity to the present premises, and lease them to the Crown for a term of years, with the option of purchase or renewal of the lease. 
Designs for the building have been prepared. 

CUSTOMS AND EXCISE OFFICES. 
In connection with the administration of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, a number of offices have been provided in various towns in Ireland for the Customs and Excise Department. 
29 new offices were rented with Treasury sanction during the year. 
The accommodation generally consists of one or two rooms conveniently situated for interviewing and transacting business with the claimants for pensions. 
It is anticipated that the number of offices will require to be increased during the next financial year. 

ROYAL UNIVERSITY AND QUEEN'S COLLEGES. 
As mentioned in our last Report, the Irish Universities Act, 1908, provided for the transfer of the buildings of the Royal University and of the Queen's Colleges in Belfast, Cork and Galway to the new University and Collegiate authorities constituted under the Act. 
The necessary Orders in Council having been passed, the Colleges at Belfast, Cork and Galway were transferred as from 1st October 1909, and the Royal University as from 1st November, 1909, to the new Authorities, and the responsibility of the Board for their maintenance ceased from those dates.