§ Mr. ARTHUR LYNCHasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention had been called to a resolution proposed at a meeting of the County Clare Pension Committee at Ennistymon, on 4th September, 1909, by Daniel O'Loghlen, chairman of the Clare County Council, and seconded by Michael Leyden, chairman of the Ennistymon District Council, and unanimously adopted, calling attention to the decisions of the Local Government Board in cases where pension applicants have assigned their holdings according to ancient and long-established custom, and to the standard of income, based on maintenance, set up by pension officers and the Local Government Board, and asking for an inquiry to establish a fixed standard of value in all such cases in the interest of applicants for old age pensions, instead of leaving the question of income entirely in the hands of the pension officer; and whether he would indicate how he intended to meet the alleged grievances?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYThe attention of my right hon. Friend has been drawn to the resolution. It would be impossible to fix a standard value of maintenance that would be applicable to all cases in which claimants have assigned their holdings to others. The circumstances and mode of living vary in different households; and the Local Government Board therefore deal with each case on its own merits by making a separate computation of the value of the maintenance and privileges which the particular claimant enjoys in consideration of the assignment of his holding.
§ Mr. ARTHUR LYNCHCould the right hon. Gentleman give some instructions to the officials to be a little more sympathetic in dealing with this whole question of old age pensions, where we find, on the one hand, the opinion of the pension officers pitted against the opinion of the pensions committee, who are representative men?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYI have no reason to believe that the Local Government Board do not consider those questions in a most sympathetic sense.
§ Mr. CULLINANMay I ask whether lit is not a fact that the pension officers and the Local Government Board look with suspicion upon any assignation of property which has taken place between a father and son since the Pension Act, and where these assignations are not regulated in accordance with the usual custom which has prevailed for generations in Ireland?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYI quite agree these assignments are all of a bonâ fide character. I do not think there is any foundation for the hon. Member's apprehension.
§ Mr. KELLEYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if it is not the fact that the Local Government Board automatically confirm the views of the pension officers without any inquiry whatever into the case?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYMy opinion is to the contrary.
§ Mr. CULLINANI speak as chairman of a pension committee. May I ask whether it is not the fact that the Local Government Board are completely ignoring the pension committees, and have no power or influence over them whatever?