Mr. CHARLES MacVEIGHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the case of Patrick Moy, of Glenfin, East Donegal, who was in receipt of an old age pension from 1st January, and which was stopped at the end of June on the ground that his name did not appear in any Census; whether he will state on what evidence, if any, he was deprived of his pension; and whether, on ample proof that Mr. Moy is 70 years of age, he will take steps to have his pension restored to him, together with the money that is due to him since June last?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEOn a question raised by the pension officer the pension granted to Patrick Moy was discontinued in June last, in accordance with the decision of the local pension committee. There is no objection to a fresh claim being made by Patrick Moy if he has evidence to show that he has reached the statutory age, but I have no power to give retrospective effect to a fresh grant of pension.
Mr. CHARLES MacVEIGHasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the pension officer at Stranorlar, East Donegal, invariably took objection to all applicants for a pension who were found to be 12 years of age in the Census of 1851, and thus deprived them of their pensions for three months; and whether he can state whose instructions and what authority he had for treating the aged poor in this way?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe pension officer at Stranorlar raised a question as to the title to receive a pension of 17 pensioners whose ages were recorded as 12 in the Census of 1851. Each case was considered by the pension committee on its merits, with the result that in 13 cases the pensions were continued. In the other four cases, the pensions were withdrawn. The pensioners appear to have been satisfied with the justice of the decision, since they 331W have not availed themselves of their right to appeal to the Local Government Board.
Mr. CHARLES MacVEIGHasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the pension officer at Stranorlar, East Donegal, who was satisfied at the time a number of pensions were granted by the pensions committee to accept a certificate from the parish clergyman that the applicants were over 70 years of age, now give them notice that owing to the fact that the names of their families cannot be found in the Census of 1841 or 1851, that their pension shall be discontinued; and whether he will state on whose instruction and on what proof this officer is acting?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEAny question as to a pensioner's title to continue to receive a pension rests for decision, not with the pension officer, but with the local pension committee, subject to appeal to the Local Government Board. The pension officer at Stranorlar has not given notice to any pensioner that his pension is to be discontinued, but pension officers have instructions that, in cases where it is found necessary to raise a question, they are so to inform the pensioner, and to warn him that if the question is decided against him he will be liable to refund the whole amount drawn during the time that he has not been entitled to receive the pension.