§ Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the grounds upon which the application of Mrs. Catherine O'Neill, of Church Street, Keady, for an old age pension has been disallowed on appeal to the Local Government Board; is he aware that the application was approved by the Armagh Rural South old age pension committee, who were satisfied that the applicant had attained the required age; and if, in view of the difficulty in this case of procuring definite proof of age, the Local Government Board will reconsider the case in 537W the light of the applicant's own declaration and the testimony of two aged men who knew her as a child?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMrs. O'Neill's claims were disallowed by the Local Government Board for want of evidence that she had attained the statutory age. The subcommittee mentioned passed her first claim in October, 1911, but disallowed a further claim made by her in June last. The testimony of the two persons referred to was considered by the Board before giving their decision, and did not satisfy them that Mrs. O'Neill was seventy years of age. They also sent one of their inspectors to visit the woman, but his report was adverse to her claim. The Board have no power to reconsider their decision.