§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary on what grounds a reduced pension of only 3s. per week has been granted to Patrick O'Neill, Aghort, Ballinskelligs, although his means from all sources do not exceed £15 per year; and whether he will have inquiry made into the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board are not in a position to state the precise grounds on which the pension subcommittee decided to allow Patrick O'Neill a pension at the rate of 3s. a week only. The Board have, however, received from him an application for a pension at an increased rate, and are making inquiries into the matter.
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§ Mr. GUINEYasked whether, in view of the fact that appeals against the granting of old age pensions have been frequently made by the pension officer, the question on which the appeals are made being the value of maintenance, and on which question the members of the sub-pensions committee and the pension officer do not agree; do the Local Government Board for Ireland obtain independent evidence as to the money value of maintenance in the district where the applicants reside before arriving at a decision, or is the statement of the pension officer accepted as value in opposition to the decision arrived at by the members of the pension committee, who are resident in the district and in possession of all information on which to make a valuation?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question on this subject of the hon. Member for West Cavan on 24th July.