§ Mr. O'KELLYasked whether the right hon. Gentleman will inquire into the case of Michael M'Dermot, of Currawnban, Clooneyquinn, Elphin, Roscommon, whose pension was withdrawn last October on the ground that he had four cattle at grass, but who declares that these cattle are the property of his son; that this man is 75 years of age and is the occupier of a small farm, with a Government valuation of £5 15s., and declares he has no other means, except what small allowance his children can make him; and will he have the case inquired into with a view of having the pension restored?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board, on an appeal by the pension officer, reduced this man's pension from 5s. to 1s. per week, as they estimated the value of his means at more than £28 17s. 6d. per annum. His age and the valuation of his holding are as stated. The cattle referred to in the question were not taken by the Board as belonging to him, though they credited him with a small sum as the value of their grazing on his holding. It is not open to the Board to reconsider their decision on the appeal.
Mr. CATHCART WASONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the many other similar cases existing, he will appoint a Departmental Committee to inquire into the possibility of having some fixed rules to guide the pension officers?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI should be very glad if such rules could be fixed, but how are you to lay down fixed rules for the purpose of determining whether the real income is £28 or £29 or £31? I am afraid it would be very difficult, though I should be very glad of assistance.
§ Mr. FLAVINBy what regulations or methods does the pension officer decide the value to the old age pensioner of his living in the house with his family?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe pension officer has to ascertain the income of the person in receipt of the pension, and he has to estimate as best he can his revenue from all sources.
§ Mr. FLAVINWhere there is no revenue, and the old man and woman have simply the right to live in a room of the house, how does the pension officer estimate the rent of the room per week?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt very often happens in Ireland that the old people have the right to live in the room by legal covenants, under which they have handed over their property, and the Revenue officer has to consider what the value of that legal covenant is, and how much the accommodation, and how much the food is worth per annum.
§ Mr. DELANYasked the Chief Secretary whether he could say upon what grounds Patrick Dalton, Roskeen, Queen's County, was deprived of the pension of 5s. per week granted to him by the Mount-mellick sub-committee; whether he was aware that Dalton was in receipt of the pension from 1st January, 1909 to 1st July last, and that no appeal was lodged by the pension officer within the statutory period of seven days; and could he say under what circumstances and by what authority the pension was withdrawn?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI understand that Patrick Dalton was in receipt of a pension from 1st January to 1st July, 1909. The pension was discontinued by the pension sub-committee on a question raised by the pension officer in accordance with Article 17 of the Old Age Pensions Regulations as to whether Dalton had attained the statutory age. The name of Patrick Dalton not being found among his parents' family in the Census Return of 1841, the Local Government Board confirmed the decision of the pension committee when it came before them on appeal by the pensioner.
§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary whether he could state why Michael Burke, of Drumnasovey, Riverstown, Ballymote, county Sligo, an old age pensioner on the list since the Act came into operation, had been deprived of his pension; and whether he had been called upon to refund the sums already received by him?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEMichael Burke has been deprived of his pension by the local pension committee on evidence produced 578 to them that, according to the Census Returns, he has not yet attained the statutory age. In accordance with the provision of Section 9 (2) of the Old Age Pensions Act, he has been called upon to refund the sums paid to him in respect of the pension while the statutory conditions were not fulfilled.
§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary if he could state why Mary McGarry, of Carrea, Ballintogher, county Sligo, who was born in 1835, and who had been in receipt of a weekly pension since the Act came into operation, had been suddenly deprived of such pension; whether such action was taken without the case having been duly investigated; and, if so, whether steps would be taken to have the facts of this case fully inquired into?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIn this case the pension officer raised the question that Miss McGarry, who stated in her claim that she was born in 1837, had not reached the statutory age. The pension committee decided that her pension should be continued, but the pension officer appealed to the Local Government Board, who decided in his favour, as Miss McGarry was not included in the Census Return of her parents' family in 1841, and appeared as only eight years of age in the Census of 1851. Before coming to their decision the Board afforded her full opportunity of furnishing any evidence which she could obtain as to her age.
§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that an application for an old age pension, accompanied by a certificate from the local parish priest, was duly made to the pension sub-committee of the district, either at Rivers-town or Ballintogher, county Sligo, by Dan Murphy, of Roughan, Conway's Cross, early in 1909, and that the applicant was granted the full pension of 5s. per week; whether he was aware that afterwards the Local Government Board refused their sanction on the grounds that the applicant's name could not be found in the Census Returns of 1841 and 1851; and whether, seeing that, at the suggestion of the pension officer, several old persons certified the applicant to be over 70 years of age, the case of Murphy would be re-investigated under the circumstances and in view of the unreliability of the Census Returns as a true test of age?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI understand that Daniel Murphy was allowed a pension of 5s. a week in September last by the Riverstown 579 pension sub-committee, who seem to have come to their decision as to the claimant's age on the ground of his appearance, and not, so far as the Local Government Board are aware, on any evidence or certificate. The pension officer appealed to the Local Government Board, who upheld the appeal as Murphy's name did not appear in the Census Returns of his parents' family in 1841 and the other evidence submitted by him afforded no proof of his having attained the statutory age.