§ Mr. JAMES O'KELLYasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Edward Hudson, Lisgarr, Ballyroddy, Elphin, county Roscommon, who had an old age pension granted to him by the Boyle sub-committee, and had the pension disallowed, on appeal by the pension officer, on the grounds that the record of the claimant's birth was not forthcoming; and whether, seeing that this record, with a number of other documents relating to the parish, were burned after the death of Father Egan, P.P., and that it is claimed that Hudson was born on 1st October, 1838, and was married on 3rd February, 1873, the pension will be granted in this case?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board disallowed Hudson's claim, as the evidence he furnished was not sufficient to justify them in holding that he had reached the required age. Apart from his marriage certificate, which afforded no support for his contention, the only evidence he put forward was the mere expression of belief on the part of a neighbour that he had attained the statutory age. It is not open to the Board to reconsider the decision already given, but a fresh claim can be made if additional evidence is forthcoming, and if made will be considered on its merits.