§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether James O'Connor, of Cloncrippa, Feenagh, Charleville, county Limerick, an old man over seventy years, is entitled to an old age pension, having regard to the fact that he has an annuity of £25 out of which he has to pay £6 per annum for the use of a room and to maintain his wife, who is not of pensionable age; and, if so, will he direct the Local Government Board who rejected his application to reconsider their decision in the matter?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Local Government Board have no power to reconsider a decision once it has been given, but it is open to the claimant to make a fresh application, James O'Connor assigned a farm of thirty-one acres, with fourteen cows and other stock, to a nephew, and, having regard to Section 4 (3) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, the annuity reserved cannot be taken as adequately representing his means.
§ Mr. KENNEDYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether James Morgan, senior, Drumavaddy, county Cavan, an old age pensioner, drawing 3s. per week, has applied for the full pension; whether this application has been granted; and, if not, will he state fully why the application is refused?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Local Government Board state that they have had no application for an increase referred to them in this case. The original claim allowing a pension of 3s. a week was only passed in August last.
§ Mr. KENNEDYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Patrick Delany, of Pollabane, county Cavan, appeal No. WB 4,202, has been refused a pension; and will he state in detail what this man's means are?
§ Mr. DUKEPatrick Delany has had three claims disallowed by the Local Government Board. He had two farms, one containing about 16| acres, the other 11 acres, the combined rents being £8 8s. He disposed of these farms to two unmarried sons in June, 1914, apparently to 1497W qualify himself for a pension, and accordingly under Section 4 (3) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, they are still regarded as forming part of his means. His first claim was made soon after the assignment.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked on what Section of the Old Age Pensions Act the Local Government Board for Ireland rely in attributing property in land and stock to old persons who in fact have none; how long after the loss of effective ownership and of legal ownership of property, respectively, does the fact of having formerly owned property debar persons otherwise entitled from getting old age pensions; and, seeing that James and Anne Reilly, now lodgers at Kilmore, Streete, and certified by the Coole Pension Sub-Committee to have ceased to be effective owners some years before a legal assignment of land became necessary, and are found by the inspector to have no property, whether a fresh claim by them will be considered?
§ Mr. LARDNERasked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether in the case of old age pensioners who have become inmates of unions in Ireland solely by reason of senile debility their pensions are cancelled; and, if so, will he state what authority there is for withdrawing these pensions; and on what evidence and by what body the decision to cancel the pension is made?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWUnder Section 3 (1) (a) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, the receipt of Poor Law relief (other than relief excepted under that Section) involves disqualification for old age pension purposes. The question whether in any particular ease the relief received is of a disqualifying nature, or whether it comes within one of the exceptions, is a matter for determination by the local pension committee or sub-committee, subject to the usual right of appeal to the Local Government Board.