§ Mr. HAYDENasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Edward Naughton, of Ardmullen, Curraghboy, county Roscommon, has applied for an old age pension and that his application has been refused on the ground that his income is over the statutory limit; that the applicant is owner of thirteen acres of land, the profits of which he has bound himself to share with his son and daughter and whether, in the circumstances, he will direct that Naughton's application be taken into consideration?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI understand that Edward Naughton is the owner of holding of 177W eighteen statute acres. When the Local Government Board decided, on the appeal of the pension officer, that his means exceeded the statutory limit, no evidence was before them of the existence of any obligation on his part to share the profits of the farm with his son and daughter. Subsequently, however, he made such statement to the Board, when requesting reconsideration of his case, but it does not appear that any formal agreement has been made in the matter. It is not open to the Board to reconsider their decision.
§ Mr. HAYDENasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Catherine Gilmor, of Turville, county Roscommon, has been in receipt of an old age pension, and that an appeal has now been brought by the local pension officer against the decision of the committee granting her pension on the ground that she has been unable to procure certificate of birth; that this pensioner states she is seventy-six years of age, and arrives at this conclusion through having seen the birth certificate of her cousin, Jane Mannion, who was baptised on 3rd March, 1833, and who, she is informed, was born three weeks after her; and whether, in the circumstances, he will take action with view to continuing the pension to this woman?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe pension officer appealed to the Local Government Board in this case on the ground that the pensioner was not seventy years old, and the Board disallowed her pension. Her parents were traced in the Census Returns of 1841, but her name was not included among the family. It is not open to the Board to reconsider their decision.
§ Mr. HAYDENasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that in the parish of Ballinagore, Castlerea, in county Roscommon, the payment of old age pensions has been discontinued to very large number of old people on the ground that the Census of 1841 and 1851 registered them under seventy years of age, and in number of cases that the names could not be found in the Census; and whether, in view of the notoriously unreliable character of the Census, he will direct that the claims of these people, many of whom are in the direst poverty, will be considered?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI cannot say whether many pensions have been discontinued in the parish referred to, as I have no knowledge of any cases save those which come178W before the Local Government Board on appeal. Every case brought before the Board has received full consideration, and if pensions have been disallowed on the evidence of the Census Returns it is because the other evidence produced has not been such as to throw doubt on the accuracy of the Returns. I cannot admit that the Census Returns are, as rule, untrustworthy. They have been accepted in support of the great majority of claims and in many cases afford the only available proof of age.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked what is the total number of persons disqualified from receiving old age pensions in county Longford during the year 1909, and from 1st January, 1910, to 31st March, 1910, respectively; how many of these cases were disqualified by the local committeee, and how many on appeal to the Local Government Board; and whether any of these cases, have been reconsidered?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to similar question asked by him on 1st December last, and to that given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury to question asked by the hon. Member for Pembroke and Haverfordwest on 2nd December. For the reasons then stated the information for which he asks cannot be given.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary on what grounds Bridget Leavy, of Cartrons, county Longford, has been deprived of her old age pension; and whether, considering the fact that her age has now been certified by large farmer in the locality, Mr. Hugh Murray, whose own age is eighty-four years, he will now direct that this woman's pension be restored to her?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe pension officer questioned this woman's title to pension, as he was not satisfied that she had reached the statutory age, the clergyman, who originally certified, having withdrawn his certificate on learning that she had stated to another clergyman that she was not seventy years of age. The Local Government Board upheld the pension officer's appeal on the ground of insufficient proof of age. second claim is now under the Board's consideration, but the testimony referred to as being given by Mr. Murray cannot be regarded as conclusive. The Board, however, will make further inquiries into the case before coming to decision.