§ 11. Mr. O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Patrick Wren, Ballinascar, Minard, Dingle, county Kerry, has been refused an old age pension on the ground of means; and, seeing that he is entitled only to a sixth portion of a farm which feeds ten cows, on what basis does the pension officer estimate that the annual value of his portion would exceed £31 10s.?
§ Mr. BIRRELLPatrick Wren's claim was disallowed on the grounds that his means exceeded the statutory limit. He resides on a large and well-stocked farm of which he is joint tenant with his younger brother. The Local Government Board have had no evidence corroborating the statement in the question that Wren is entitled only to a sixth portion of the farm.
§ Mr. O'DONNELLIf the Local Government Board are informed that he only holds one-sixth, will they reconsider the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLCertainly, if that is so.
§ Mr. SHEEHANDo they consider a farm sufficient only for ten cows a large farm?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt is not a question of whether it is a large farm or not. It is a question of whether the means of a person who is entitled to a share of it exceed the statutory limit.
§ 16. Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the fact that both the pension officer and the local committee decided in July, 1912, that Jeremiah Shea, Rossmore Tahilla, near Sneem, was entitled to an old age pension, that after his wife's death it was ascertained that his means did not reach the statutory limit, and that no special local investigation has been made by the Local Government Board, he will state why this applicant has not been granted an old age pension?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to his previous questions on this subject, to which have nothing to add.
§ Mr. BOLANDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the pension officer in this case recommended the pension? Can he say on whose direction the pension was refused?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt was refused by the Local Government Board.
§ Mr. BOLANDHad the Local Government Board a special investigation? Why did they not accept the decision of their own pension officer?
§ Mr. BIRRELLHe is not their pension officer. The Local Government Board are bound to consider every case quite irrespective of the pension officer, or even of the committee. They are bound to consider it de novo.
§ Mr. BOLANDCan the right hon. Gentleman say who informed the Local Government Board, or what reason they had for acting in this way?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThey heard the case on appeal, and they would be very neglectful of their duty if they did not consider the evidence one way and the other.