§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked whether any request has been addressed to the pension officers for Ballinalee sub-district, in county Longford, to attend meetings of the committee of which they have got in each case due notice; why they did not comply with this request; and will they now be directed to do so?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI am making inquiries into this matter, and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked on what grounds an old age pension has been refused to Norah Brennan, Beenbane, Waterville, in view of the fact that her claim was approved by the local sub-committee in February, 1909, 1792W was again approved in. June, 1910, and when the claim was made for a third time in April, 1911, the pension officer recommended her for the full pension of five shillings, stating that the claimant was four years of age in 1841: and whether, in view of these facts, the claim will now be approved by the Local Government Board?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs no appeal has been lodged against the decision of the subcommittee of the 5th April, 1911, the Local Government Board have no jurisdiction in the matter.
§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Chief Secretary the circumstances under which an old age pension was refused to R. Webb, of 64, Bridge Street, Derry; whether he is aware that this man's name does not appear in the Census returns for 1841 or 1851; that he was born at Templemichael, Toureen, county Cork, and baptised in the Protestant church there, which was closed up about 1873; and that consequently the baptismal register is not available; and, seeing that the applicant is well known by repute to be over seventy years of age, whether he will make inquiries into this claim with a view to having it allowed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis case has not come before the Local Government Board, and, consequently, I have no information respecting it.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the grounds on which John Walker, of Lisraghtigan, county Longford, and his wife were deprived of their old age pensions; whether the pension officer in this case stated his opinion privately that they were deserving objects for the pension, and afterwards got them removed from the list; and whether any inquiry had since been held into the matter; and, if not, would he now direct one?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have no information regarding these cases, which have not come before the Local Government Board.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the grounds upon which Anne Fagan, Coolorty, county Longford, whose age is 73 years, and who had been in receipt of an old age pension of 5s. weekly for two years, has now been deprived of the same and her book taken from her without any explanation or notification of any charge against her; and will he direct Major Fair, local government inspector, to hold an inquiry into this case with a view to restoring her pension?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLThe case referred to does not appear to have come before the Local Government Board on appeal, and they have, therefore, no power to hold the inquiry suggested.
§ Mr. MacNEILLasked on what ground has James Likely, of Rockhill, who was granted a pension of 5s. a week on 3rd October, 1910, by the Ballyshannon subcommittee, and whose age was stated in evidence to be more than eighty-five years, been deprived of that pension by the Local Government Board; and whether inquiry will be made with a view to the restoration of his pension to this man, who is in impoverished circumstances?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board upheld an appeal of the pension officer against the decision of the Ballyshannon Pension Sub-committee on the ground that James Likely's means exceeded the statutory limit. He has a farm of about twenty acres.