§ Mr. O'DOWDasked whether, in the case of applicants for old age pensions whose names cannot be traced in the Census Returns of either 1841 or 1842, the Local Government Board would consider the advisability of adopting some scheme whereby the statutory declarations or sworn affidavits of aged persons giving facts and reasons will be deemed conclusive evidence as to age in future?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYAll facts and reasons submitted on behalf of a claimant or pensioner are fully considered, but the Local Government Board could not accept statutory declarations or sworn affidavits as conclusive evidence of age.
§ Mr. O'DOWDasked whether Elizabeth Lavin, of Geevagh, county Sligo (Bally-farnon (No. 2) sub-committee, county Sligo), has been deprived of her pension by the Local Government. Board, because her name does not appear on the Census of 1841; and whether, seeing that this applicant's age is given as eleven years in the Census of 1851, and that it is a matter of notoriety in the neighbourhood that this old woman is over seventy-one years of of age, as has been attested to by the parish priest and other old residents of the locality, her pension will be given to her?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYThe facts are as stated. Mrs. Garvin's claim was disallowed in September last, and she would now be regarded as having reached the statutory age. If she is in all other respects qualified for a pension it is open to her to make a fresh claim.
1013W
§ Mr. JAMES O'KELLYasked the Chief Secretary whether, in connection with the case of Thomas Mulreed, of Rahula, in the Castlerea pension district, county Roscommon, an applicant for an old age pension, he was aware that the land alleged to belong to the applicant is not his property, that he has no interest in the stock, and that the valuation of the alleged good land of 26 acres is only £4 9s. 3d.; and whether he will state on what basis it is estimated that a profit of over £31 10s. can be derived out of land of such valuation, which is now in the possession of another person?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYThe Local Government Board were aware that Thomas Mulreed had assigned his farm and stock to a son in March, 1910, but as the assignment appears to have been made with the object of securing the pension the profits from it were regarded as part of his means in accordance with Section 4 (3) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908. The papers are not in the possession of the Board and they are therefore not able to state definitely whether the valuation is as stated. The Board's estimate of the profits was based on the stock and crops on the farm at Mullen to which Mulreed was charged by the Congested District? Board.
§ Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked whether Patrick Feely, of Cornalaughta, Fivemile-bourne. Register No. 1045, who was in receipt of the old age pension from the 18th of August, 1909, was disqualified on the ground that he was not the statutory age according to the Census of 1851; and, having regard to the fact of a mistake being in the entry of Census, as he was given as the fifth child of Pat and Anne Feely, married 1836, whereas he is the fourth, and to the fact of the local committee granting him the pension three times on the sworn evidence of persons whose ages ranged from 75 to 80 years, he will be granted the pension with all arrears?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYPatrick Feely's name did not appear in the Census return of his parent's family in 1841, and he was recorded as six years old in the return of 1851, from which it would appear that he is now about sixty-six years of age. The evidence adduced to controvert this did not satisfy the Board.
§ Mr. HACKETTasked whether his attention had been called to the case of Mrs. Ann Casey, Cuguilla, Templemore, 1014W who was the owner of a small farm of sixteen acres, which she handed over to her son William ten years ago on the occasion of his marriage, in consideration of receiving his wife's fortune, namely, £100, out of which she provided for her other child, as is customary amongst the people of her class in Ireland; whether he is aware that Mrs. Casey has been refused an old age pension by the Local Government Board, on the grounds that her means exceed the statutory limit; and whether, under these circumstances, he will advise the Local Government Board to reconsider her appeal, with a view to granting her an old age pension?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYThe assignment of the farm of eighteen Irish acres and the stock thereon was made on the 15th April, 1910, and not ten years ago as stated in the question, and it appeared to have been made with a view to enable Mrs. Casey to obtain a pension. The profits of the farm were therefore included in the estimate of her means in accordance with Section 4 (3) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Chief Secretary on what grounds Mrs. Ellen Fleming, of Ballylanders, county Limerick, was deprived of her pension; whether he was aware that her age could not be found in the Census Returns or in the parish registry, and that two respectable men, viz., James Riordan and William Brassil, certified to the pension officer that this woman was more than seventy-two years of age; and, having regard to the circumstances of the case and the position of this woman, will instructions be given to the pension officer to have her pension continued, and all back money allowed, seeing that the local pension committee have on three different occasions passed this woman's claim?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYIt does not appear to be the case that Mrs. Fleming's claim was passed three times by the Local Pension Committee, as it was the committee that discontinued her pension on a question raised by the pension officer on the ground that she had not reached the statutory age. Her appeal to the Local Government Board against the committee's decision was late, and could not, therefore, be entertained. The Board have no information as to what evidence was before the committee when they decided to disallow the pension.