HC Deb 03 July 1917 vol 95 cc905-6W
Mr. KENNEDY

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the Local Government Board have refused to increase Mrs. Mary Anne Galligan's pension from 5s. to 7s. 6d., seeing that this old age pensioner, who lives at Kilpatrick, county Cavan, was granted the increase of 2s. 6d. by the local committee who know all the facts?

Mr. DUKE

I assume the question relates to the case of Mary A. Galligan, of Kill, Kilnaleck, whose claim was disallowed by the Local Government Board as her means exceeded 12s. 6d. a week. In addition to her old age pension, she had partial free support on her brother's farm of 10 acres.

Mr. KENNEDY

asked how many old age pensions in Ireland have been increased by 2s. 6d.; and how many claims have been refused?

Mr. DUKE

The number of additional allowances at the 2s. 6d. rate payable to old age pensioners in Ireland to the end of March, the latest date for which figures are available, was 103,311. No statistics of the number of applications refused are recorded.