§ Mr. NOLANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the case of a man, named Michael Tracey, seventy-two years of age, of the town of Drogheda, county Louth, who has applied for an old age pension and has been refused on the plea that his wife, who deserted him seventeen years ago and has been living apart from him ever since, has, during the separation, received Poor Law relief; whether he is aware that Tracey himself has been all his life a hard-working industrious man of good character, and has never at any time been a burden upon the rates; and whether he will cause this case to be further inquired into with a view to securing justice for this man who, through no fault of his own. has been declared ineligible for a pension?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board in January, 1909, disallowed Tracey's pension, as his wife had been in receipt of outdoor relief. The fact that a 825 husband and wife live apart does not affect the statutory provision of the Poor Law Acts that relief given to a wife shall be considered as given to the husband; and Tracey was accordingly disqualified for a pension, under Sub-section (1) (a) of Section 3 of the Old Age Pensions Act.