§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the local committee granted an old age pension to Peter H. Shea, Shanacashel, Glencar; whether, in view of the fact that it is now alleged that the claimant's means exceed the statutory limit, although the old stint of the farm was the grass of six cows, and any improvement has been effected by the reclamation and purchase of fodder, inquiry will be made by a competent valuer as to the real facts of the case; and whether, seeing that, in accordance with the custom of the country, an assignment of part of the farm was made in the marriage agreement of the claimant's son, and that the agreement and other documents have been submitted to the Local Government Board, steps will now be taken to grant the pension to the claimant?
§ Mr. BIRRELLPeter Shea lives with his married son on a farm of about 55 acres which carries over twenty head of cattle in addition to pigs and fowl. It appears that he assigned portion of the farm to the son on the latter's marriage in 1910, but having regard to the extent of the farm and stock, the claimant's means, notwithstanding the assignment, could not be regarded as less than £31 10s. a year. His claim was disallowed by the Local Government Board on the 17th October, and they have no power to reopen consideration of the case.