HC Deb 17 July 1911 vol 28 cc843-5W
Mr. VINCENT KENNEDY

asked on what grounds the Local Government Board for Ireland decided that Bridget Muldoon, of Gubrawolly, county Cavan, was not entitled to any pension, the pension officer having reported that the claimant was entitled to a pension of 2s. weekly, decision dated about 26th August, 1910?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Local Government Board disallowed the claim of Bridget Muldoon to a pension on the ground that her means exceeded the statutory limit. The Board are not bound by a pension officer's valuation of a claimant's stock and crops.

Mr. VINCENT KENNEDY

asked on what grounds the Local Government Board for Ireland decided that James M'Teigue, of Tullanderrin, county Cavan, was not entitled to any pension, the pension officer having reported that the claimant was entitled to a pension of 3s. weekly, decision dated about 16th November, 1910?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Local Government Board disallowed this claim of James M'Teigue to a pension on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory limit. The Board are not bound by a pension officer's valuation of a claimant's stock and crops.

Mr. SHEEHAN

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that an old age pensioner named Kate Caughlan, or Downey, of Ballingarry, county Limerick, was in receipt of outdoor relief of 2s. per week; that she did not receive her old age pension until the 10th March, 1911, though entitled to it on the 1st January; and will the Local Government Board, if the facts represented are accurate, order that the difference between 2s. outdoor relief and 5s. pension from 1st January to 10th March be refunded to her?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Local Government Board have received no appeal in this case, and I have, therefore, no information on the subject.

Mr. GUINEY

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the reasons why the Local Government Board have disallowed the pension claim of Henry Talbot, Kilmainham, Brosna, county Kerry (No. 1,369 on the sub-committee's register), seeing that this applicant's age is proved by certificate and the pension has been passed by the sub-committee several times?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Local Government Board disallowed Talbot's claim on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory limit. He had a holding of over twenty-six acres, carrying eleven cows, two yearling cattle, a horse, and fowl, which he assigned to his son on the latter's marriage in November, 1909, reserving to himself only the use of an upper room, turf, milk, and potatoes. He was also in receipt of £10 a year as clerk in Abbey- feale Church, and had in the bank the sum of £50, which he handed over to his daughter after the first disallowance of his claim by the Board.

Mr. GUINEY

asked why the Local Government Board have disallowed the pension claim of Andrew Hourigan, Taur, Newmarket, county Cork; and if a temporary pension officer estimated the maintenance of this applicant, who is seventy-eight years of age and living in. a mountainous farm, at £33 16s. a year?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Local Government Board disallowed Hourigan's claim to a pension on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory limit. He sent in his claim on the 26th of January last and two days later executed a deed assigning to his son (not on marriage) a grazing farm of 193 acres with sixteen cows, five heifers and a horse, in return for board and lodging or ten pounds a year. The pension officer estimated, as stated, the value of Hourigan's maintenance at £33 16s. 0d. a year, but the Board in giving their decision were of opinion that the claimant had deprived himself of property in order to qualify for the receipt of a pension.