§ Mr. MOONEY (for Mr. Hugh Law)asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, when refusing the claim to old age pension of John M'Nulty, Dunmore, Falcarragh, county Donegal, the Local Government Board had before them the certificate of Dr. M'Donald, Falcarragh, stating that the relief given to this man was medical aid, not poor relief; and, if so, whether he will state the grounds upon which the pension was refused?
§ Mr. CHERRYThe Local Government Board, when deciding this case, had before them the certificate mentioned, which was given in March last. Its contents are not as alleged, but are as follows: "John McNulty has been in continuous ill-health for the past two years and consequently has been unable to work for his living. He has been receiving poor relief on a certificate from me." The clerk of the union certified that no medical certificate was received from the doctor by the guardians and that McNulty obtained poor relief in the form of groceries for the whole of the year 1908, with the exception of about seven weeks. The Board were satisfied, on consideration of these facts, that the relief afforded could not properly be described as medical or surgical assistance within the meaning of Section 3 (1) (a) (i) of the Old Age Pensions Act, and that, consequently, the claimant was disqualified from receiving a pension.