§ Mr. MOONEYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state on what grounds the Local Government Board have refused a pension to John Early, of Queen Street, Newry?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLThe pension officer appealed against the decision of the local committee to allow John Early a pension, on the ground that he was in receipt of relief. The Local Government Board upheld the pension officer's view, as they found that the claimant remained in the Workhouse Infirmary suffering from general debility, and had thus rendered himself disqualified.
§ Mr. MOONEYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state on what grounds the Local Government Board have taken away the old age pension awarded to Mrs. Alice Hollywood, of Corrinchago, Newry; and whether, in view of the fact that the claimant put in papers showing that she was 74 years of age, that her rental was £8 11s., and that the stock in her possession would not be sufficient to put her outside the statutory limit, he will take immediate steps to have this case fully inquired into?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt is not correct to say that the Local Government Board took away this woman's pension, as she never received one. The pension officer reported that claimant's means exceeded £31 10s., and the Local Government Board ascertained that she occupies a farm of 16 acres close to the town of Newry, and had four acres of oats, an acre of potatoes, and another of flax, besides other crops and live stock. They considered that the grounds upon which the pension officer decided that the claimant was not qualified for a pension were fully justified.