§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether Thomas M'Mahon, Corrys' Lane, Kilkee, West Clare, was in the enjoyment of an old age pension for nine months; and whether he can state the grounds on which Thomas M'Mahon's pension was disallowed?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSE:I find that Thomas M'Mahon's pension was withdrawn on a question raised by the pension officer on the ground that the pensioner had not attained the statutory age. The case was the subject of an unsuccessful appeal to the Local Government Board.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention had been called to the case of Mrs. Mary Lynch, of Rehy West, Cross, Kilkee, West Clare, who had been in receipt of an old age pension of 3s. weekly since 1st January, 1909, but had been deprived of the pension after some months' enjoyment on the ground that her name did not appear on the Census Returns of 1841 and 1851; and whether, in this case, he would consider as good evidence of age the certificates of two respectable ratepayers, aged eighty-four and seventy-two respectively, who have known her from infancy?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSE:I am informed that this pension was withdrawn, on appeal to 904W the Local Government Board for Ireland, whose decision is, under the Old Age Pensions Act, final and conclusive, and I have no power to interfere.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is acquainted with the circumstances under which Mrs. Kate Connell, of Clonlaheen, Miltown Malbay, was deprived of an old age pension which she had enjoyed for some months; whether on 14th September the pension committee sitting at Kilrush considered an objection that in the Census of 1851 she was returned as one year old, but nevertheless became satisfied that she was of the statutory age, and accordingly again recommended her pension; whether any grounds exist for disallowing the pension other than the communication of the pension officer in regard to the Census of 1851; and whether it appears that the pension officer was acquainted with the appearance of the applicant?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSE:The answers to the first, second and fourth parts of this question are in the affirmative. As to the third part, I am informed that the Local Government Board for Ireland decided on an appeal by the pension officer that Mrs. Connell was not entitled to a pension, and it was accordingly withdrawn
§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will direct his attention to the case of Michael Hedderman, of Querin, West Clare, who had been in receipt of an old age pension for about twelve months and was subsequently deprived of it on the ground that in the Census of 1851 he appeared as only eight years of age; whether his sister Mary, who was born in 1836 and who is reported to be three years senior to Michael, appears in the Census of 1851 as six years of age, and in the Census of 1841 as five years of age; and whether, in view of these discrepancies, the evidence would be considered of various reputable citizens of Kilrush who can certify from personal knowledge that Michael Hedderman must be over seventy years of age?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSE:The Local Government Board ordered the withdrawal of the pension granted to Michael Hedderman on an appeal to them by the local pension officer on the ground that the pensioner had not attained the statutory age. The entries in the Census Returns to which reference is made have been found, on further investigation, to refer not to 905W Michael Hedderman's sister, but to another person of the same name and place.