§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that the purchase annuity payable by Patrick Murphy, Kilquane, Headford, only amounts to £3 11s. 6d.; whether seeing that another claimant, whose purchase annuity amounts to £7, was granted an old age pension, he can state on what grounds the Local Government Board, in refusing Patrick Murphy's claim to an old age pension arrived at the conclusion that his income was in excess of £31 10s.; and whether his claim will now be reconsidered?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board inform me that the purchase annuity payable by Patrick Murphy is as stated. The Board however did not base their estimate of the claimant's means upon the amount of the annuity, but upon the nature and quality of his holding of over twenty acres of land and the value of the stock and crops thereon. It is not open to the Board to reconsider their decisions.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Daniel P. Murphy, Kilquane, Headford, satisfied the local pension committee that he had attained the statutory age and forwarded an affidavit to that effect to the Local Government Board; and can he state on what grounds this man has not been granted an old age pension?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe pension officer appealed against the decision of the Pensions Committee on the ground that Daniel Murphy had not attained the statutory age, and the Local Government Board allowed the appeal.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked whether the Local Government Board made any allowance for maintenance and the labour of the son when calculating the income of Michael T. Scannell, Shronebeg, Rathmore, when deciding that he was not entitled to a pension; and can he state on what other grounds, if any, this claim was refused?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board disallowed Michael Scannell's claim on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory limit. The Board's estimate of means in such cases is invariably based on 2729W the estimated profit remaining after due allowance has been made for all reasonable and necessary outgoings.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked whether the Local Government Board has yet decided the appeal lodged by Johanna Leary, Knocknacopple, Rathmore, against the action of the pension officer in disallowing her claim for an old age pension merely on the ground that the claimant's baptismal certificate was not stamped; whether similar certificates have been accepted by the same officer; and when will the decision be given?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board decided on 22nd July that Mrs. Leary was entitled to a pension of 5s. a week, and they have notified the pension officer and sub-committee accordingly.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the action of the Local Government Board in disallowing the claim of Patrick Donoghue, Shroneboy, Glenflesk, although the pension officer reported that he was entitled to a pension of 4s. per week; and whether his claim will be granted if a new claim is made by the applicant?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board are not hound by a pension officer's estimate of means, but form their own estimate from the evidence before them. It is open to the claimant in this case to make a fresh claim if he considers that he is in a position to show that his means do not exceed the statutory limit.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Mary Looney, Curraglass, Kilgarvan, owns a miserable patch of land and was allowed a pension of 4s. per week by the pension officer; and can he state on what calculation the Local Government Board reckoned that her income exceeded £31 10s., in face of the opinion of the pension officer, and deprived her of her pension?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe pension officer recommended a pension of 4s. per week in this case, but the Local Government Board formed their own estimate from the evidence before them, and, as they considered that Mrs. Looney's means exceeded the statutory limit, they disallowed her claim. Claimant had eight head of cattle, free turf, besides crops of potatoes, oats, and hay.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary if he can state on what grounds Kate FitzGerald, Shinnagh, Rathmore, has 2730W been deprived of the old age pension of which she had been in receipt; if he can give the report of the pension officer as to the age of the claimant; and whether he was satisfied with the action of the Local Government Board in the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board disallowed Mrs. FitzGerald's pension because she was unable to satisfy them that she had attained the statutory age. The pension officer reported that her name did not appear in the Census Return of 1841, and that she was recorded in the Census of 1851 as being then only nine years old. The only evidence put forward by Mrs. FitzGerald were certificates of her marriage in 1860 and of the baptism of her eldest child in 1861. The Statute provides that the decisions of the Local Government Board, on appeals in old age pension cases, shall be final and conclusive, and I cannot therefore express any opinion with regard to such decisions.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Cornelius Looney, Gortroumakiery, Muckross, was in receipt of an old age pension, having satisfied the committee and pension officer as to his having attained the statutory age; and can he state on what grounds the pension was discontinued?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIn this case the pension officer raised a question as to Looney's age, and appealed against the decision of the sub-committee to continue the pension. The Local Government Board disallowed the pension, as Looney was unable to produce satisfactory evidence that he had attained the statutory age.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary if he can state upon what grounds the Local Government Board disallowed the old age pension granted by the Lahardane, county Mayo, pension sub-committee to John M'Gowan, of Knockbawn, Glen-island, Castlebar; and if the Board, in calculating the claimant's income, include the profits from a holding of land which he assigned to his son, James M'Gowan, so far back as 11th June, 1900?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board disallowed John M'Gowan's claim on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory limit. In assessing a claimant's means the Board are bound under the Old Age Pensions Act to take into consideration not only the yearly value of any advantage derived from pro- 2731W perty belonging to him, but also the value of any benefit or privilege which he may enjoy.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received resolutions from numerous public bodies throughout Ireland protesting against any contribution coming from the rates towards the payment of old age pensions; and whether, in view of the confusion which will doubtless arise in estimating what amount is to come from the rates, can he see his way to drop the proposal and have the pensions paid out of the same fund as those that have been paid heretofore?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI have received some such resolutions from Ireland. I may, perhaps, refer the hon. Member to the reply to a similar question which I gave to the hon. Member for Blackburn on the 21st ult.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that old age pensions usually take effect from the day that the applicant reaches his or her seventieth birthday, provided that the applications have been approved and accepted, he will explain why Mrs. Genn, of 11, Leigh Road, West-cliff-on-Sea, Essex, who made her application on 4th March last, in view of the fact that she would arrive at the age of seventy on 24th May following, has been informed that the pension will not commence until the first week in August.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI am informed that Mrs. Genn's claim is dated 17th March, and not the 4th, as stated. She produced no evidence of age in support of her claim, but on application being made by the pension officer to the Registrar-General, a certificate showing that she was born on 27th May, 1840, was received on the 17th ultimo The officer's Report was then completed and sent to the committee, who, it is understood, will decide the claim at their next meeting, on the 5th instant. Under the law an old age pension cannot begin to be paid until the Friday next following the date of the decision granting it.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Secretary to the Treasury on what grounds Jeremiah M`Graith, Ballintubber, Kilfinane, county Limerick, has been deprived of his pension; whether he is aware that, according to the Census of 1841, this poor man was more than a year old, and therefore entitled under the Act; and, having 2732W regard to the fact that this man is in a poor state, will steps be taken, by whoever is responsible, to have this old man re-admitted to the pension ranks, and thus prevent and put an end to an existing hardship?
§ 1841. Mr. HOBHOUSE
§ Mr. MAURICE HEALYasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. Margaret Devane, whose application in October, 1908, to the Michelstown old age pension committee for a pension was refused because she was unable to procure her baptismal certificate, and who, being in extreme poverty, was in consequence compelled to seek relief in the workhouse, but who has now succeeded in procuring her baptismal certificate, which shows that she was born in April, 1838; and whether, as it is now proved that Mrs. Devane was qualified when she made her original application, a pension will be awarded to her?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSENo record of a claim to an old age pension by Mrs. Margaret Devane can be traced in the Michelstown area in October, 1908. The only claim recorded is that made by her in February, 1910, and this claim has been disallowed by the Local Government Board, Ireland, on the ground that she had been in receipt of poor relief. I have no power to interfere with that decision.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Secretary to the Treasury on what grounds John Keogh, of Gardenhill, Castleconnell, county Limerick, was deprived of his pension; is he aware that documentary evidence of this man's age was produced; were the Census Returns looked up before this poor man was struck off the list; and, if not, why has this hardship been inflicted upon him?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEJohn Keogh's pension was withdrawn by a decision of the Local Government Board dated 3rd September last, his age being recorded as seven years in the Census Returns of 1831. A second claim preferred in December last was dis- 2733W allowed by the Castleconnell Sub-Committee on the ground that he had not reached the Statutory age.
§ Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) why James Rynne, of Barleur, county Leitrim (Appeal No. 982), was deprived of his old age pension which had been granted to him by the Manorhamilton sub-committee on the strength of evidence and certificates of age produced; and whether, as this man's name could not be found in either Census of 1841 or 1851, and as he is a poor, helpless, old man. the Local Government Board would reconsider his claim; (2) whether he is aware that Mary O'Neill was granted an old age pension by the Kinlough sub-committee, county Leitrim, in December, 1908, and on appeal by the pension officer the Local Government Board decided that she was not of the statutory age, as her name was recorded in the Census of 1851 as being then only eight years old; and, having regard to the fact that her brother John was returned on the same Census as being exactly the same age, and that it has been proved that she is six years older than John, the Local Government Board will reconsider her claim; (3) whether he is aware that Mrs. Susan Feely, of Ganvareigh, Buckode, county Leitrim, was granted an old age pension by the Kin-lough sub-committee on the strength of evidence and certificates of age produced on 21st January, 1909, and that on appeal by the pension officer the Local Government Board deprived her of her pension as her name could not be found in the Census of 1841 or 1851; and whether Mrs. Feely's claim will be reconsidered and such documentary evidence as she can produce be taken in support of her claim, or will she be debarred according to the Act because her name does not appear on the Census?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe original claims in all these cases have been finally disposed of by the decisions of the Local Government Board upon the appeals, and I understand that that Department has no power under the Act to reconsider decisions once arrived at. There is, however, no reason why new claims should not be prepared if satisfactory evidence of age can now be produced.
§ Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked the Secretary to the Treasury why it was that Michael Mooney, of Coolagrain, Drumkeerin, county Leitrim, was deprived of 2734W his old age pension, notwithstanding the fact that he produced documentary evidence of his being over seventy years of age; whether a mistake has arisen, as he was addressed by the pension officer as Michael Rooney; and whether an inquiry will be made with a view of restoring Mooney his pension?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI understand that Michael Mooney is recorded as six years old in the Census of 1851, and I am not aware that any documentary evidence has been adduced to controvert the correctness of this record. I am assured that no mistake such as has been suggested has affected the question of his eligibility for a pension.