§ Mr. LARDNERasked the Chief Secretary if he would state on what grounds an 973W old age pension was refused to Margaret McNally, of Corbane, county Monaghan, Register No. A 177, seeing that the decision of the Local Government Board as intimated to her simply stated that the applicant was not entitled to any pension; whether the Local Government Board had taken into consideration the Census return for the year 1851, in which Margaret McNally appeared under her maiden name, Margaret Donaghy, daughter of Michael Donaghy, as aged eleven in that year; and would he further state whether the Local Government Board had decided that the applicant's income exceeds £31 10s., notwithstanding the fact that the only property which she possessed was a small farm of six acres, held at an annuity of £3 6s. 4d., on which farm she had to support a son and daughter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board were satisfied that Margaret McNally had attained the statutory age, but they disallowed her claim on the ground that her means exceeded the statutory limit. Besides the farm referred to in the question, it appeared that the claimant worked another farm of eight acres which was stated to belong to a son in America.
§ Mr. LARDNERasked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that Mary Murray, of Croaghan, in the county of Monaghan, who applied for an old age pension, was refused by the Local Government Board on appeal, No. Y899, on the ground that her income exceeded £31 10s. per annum; if he twill state the reason for this decision, in view of the fact that on the 7th July, 1908, her deceased husband, Dennis Murray, assigned a reversionary interest in his farm stock, and crop to his son, John Murray, reserving to himself a life estate and to this wife, Mary Murray, a life estate, the farm to be the absolute property of John Murray at the applicant's death, and that under the deed John Murray covenanted that he would support Mary Murray during her life; that the farm consists of eleven statute acres; that there are at present living on the farm Mrs. Mary Murray, the applicant, her son John Murray, his wife and their two children, all persons who are entitled to their support and maintenance off this small farm; and whether, in view of the fact that Mary Murray, the applicant, has no means whatever except her maintenance and support off this small farm, which is also the support and maintenance of four other persons, he will ascertain whether 974W the applicant's means have been incorrectly estimated, and say whether, if a fresh application be lodged, the Local Government Board will assess the income of the applicant at the same figure having regard to the claims of the other parties legally entitled?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe facts are as stated in the question. The Local Government Board disallowed Mary Murray's claim as they considered that, after making due allowance for the expenses of working the farm, her life interest was worth more than £31 10s. a year.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the local pension committee has approved of the claim to an old age pension made by Mary Griffin, Caherciveen; and can he state on what grounds the pension has not yet been granted?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe second appeal made in this case was disallowed by the Local Government Board on the ground that there was no evidence that Mary Griffin had attained the statutory age. No subsequent appeal has come before the Board.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland can he state on what grounds Mary Lyne, Quaybawn, Glenbeigh, has not been granted the full old age pension awarded to her; and can he state whether it is due to the fact that the name had been incorrectly entered as Lyons instead of Lyne?
§ Mr. BIRRELLA claim made by Mary Lyne was disallowed by the Local Government Board on the 4th July, 1911, on the ground that they were not satisfied that her means did not exceed £31 10s. a year. A fresh claim is at present being investigated. The claimant's surname is correctly entered in the Board's records as Lyne, but the hon. Member called her Lyons in his previous question, with the consequence that the Board were unable to trace the case.