§ Mr. FLAVINasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Ballyheigue Pension Committee granted pensions of 5s. each to Thomas Dowling and his wife, Julia Dowling, of Ardrahan, Ardfert, county Kerry, on 30th March, 1909, and that the pension officer appealed against the decision of the sub-committee; and will he say on what grounds the Local Government Board decided that Thomas Dowling and his wife, Julia Dowling, were not entitled to receive an old age pension 1830W of 5s. each, seeing that both people are over 70 years and have no means of their own?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI understand that the facts are as stated in the first part of the question. The Local Government Board allowed the appeal of the pension officer on the ground that Thomas Dowling deprived himself of means which would have prevented himself and his wife from receiving a pension if he had retained them.