§ Mr. LYNCHasked whether the Secretary to the Treasury can state how often, in cases where an applicant for an old age pension has maintained himself and family on a small holding without the aid of the parish, the pension officer has objected on the ground that the applicant has not worked according to his ability during the past twenty years preceding his application; and in how many cases an objection lodged upon these grounds and no others has been upheld?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe information asked for is not available, nor do I know how it could be obtained.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked whether, in the case of John Neylon, of Caheraderry, Ennistymon, number in register 6,286, the Secretary to the Treasury can state on what ground the pension officer concluded that James Neylon had not worked according to his ability for the past twenty years, considering that James Neylon had maintained himself and family on a small holding without parish relief and free from debt; and whether, after the pension committee had twice decided in favour of James Neylon's claim, any kind of evidence was asked for from the pension officer or any steps whatever were taken to ascertain whether the pension committee or the pension officer was best informed regarding the circumstances of the applicant?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEAs stated in a reply to a question put by the hon. Member on the 20th instant, the claim of James Neylon was disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal, of whose proceedings I have no knowledge and over whom I have no control.
§ Mr. LYNCHWhat functions do these mysterious persons discharge save saying ditto to the pension officers?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI do not understand the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked on what grounds Charles Keane, of Procklish, register number 2,194, Keshcarrigan, county Leitrim, was deprived of his old age pension; why it was the Local Government Board delayed four months before giving their decision without giving Keane notification of an opportunity of establishing his claim; and whether Keane will be now afforded an opportunity of submitting evidence in support of his claim?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI understand that Charles Keane had never been in receipt of an old age pension, but that his claim was disallowed on appeal by the Local Government Board. I have no information as to the second part of the question. As regards the third part, it is open to Keane to prefer a fresh claim if he desires to do so.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLasked whether the old age pension forms and notices in use in Wales are printed in Welsh; and whether, in the Irish-speaking districts in Ireland, the necessary notices and forms will in future be printed in Irish?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEA few old age pension forms and notices are printed in Welsh. None are printed in Irish. I will inquire whether it is advisable to extend the same system in Ireland.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLasked whether any steps are taken beforehand to ascertain whether a pension officer knows Irish before he is appointed to administer the Old Age Pensions Act in any Irish-speaking district; and, if not, whether steps will be taken in future to guarantee that the officers will be able to make the necessary inquiries from claimants in the language they understand?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEIn selecting pension officers for Irish-speaking districts, preference is as far as possible given to officers who have a knowledge of the Irish language. It would be impossible to ensure that all pension officers in these districts should know Irish. Some of them do know the language; but I am assured that the lack of this knowledge has not been found in practice to impair the efficiency of an officer's work or prejudice the interests of the claimants themselves.