§ Mr. JOHN ROCHEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state why Thomas Ryan, of Drimeyre, Mullagh, county Galway, was deprived of an old age pension?
§ Mr. CHERRYThe Local Government Board cannot find any record of the case of Thomas Ryan, of Drimeyre, Mullagh, but they presume that the question refers to Thomas Ryan, who appears in then-books as of Gortymadden, Ballinasloe. This man's claim to a pension was disallowed by the pension committee on the ground that he had not attained the age of 70 years. The claimant appealed, and the Local Government Board upheld the decision of the local committee as the Census of 1851 showed him to have been born in 1841, and to be therefore 68 years of age at the present time.
§ Mr. O'DOWDasked whether the decision of the local sub-committee granting 1561 a pension to Alice M'Donnell, of Currea, Ballintogher, near Collooney, county Sligo, was appealed against some four months ago; whether the matter has since been considered by the Local Government Board; and, if so, with what result?
§ Mr. CHERRYThe Local Government Board have not yet given their decision on the appeal lodged by the pension officer in this case pending the result of certain inquiries which they have requested him to make.
§ Mr. O'DOWDIs it not the fact that this case has been under the consideration of the Local Government Board for the last four months?
§ Mr. CHERRYI am not aware of the time. The Local Government Board have a large number of these cases to deal with, and if they are to go carefully into each case they may take a very considerable time.