HC Deb 30 October 1911 vol 30 cc671-3W
Mr. DELANY

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Local Government Board have come to any determination on the appeal of the pension officer against the decision of the Mountmellick sub-committee, dated the 27th July, 1911, awarding a pension of 4s. a week to John Behan, Meelick, Rosenallis, Queen's County, in which case documents were placed before the Board showing that Behan was possessed of only seven acres of poor mountain land, and that his income from all sources did not amount to the statutory figure?

Mr. BIRRELL

The Local Government Board determined on the 7th instant that John Behan, of Meelick, Rosenallis, was entitled to a pension at the rate of 4s. a week as from the 18th August last.

Mr. DELANY

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a pension of 5s. a week was, on the 31st January, 1911, awarded to Mrs. Kate Rourke by the Cloneygowan sub - committee, King's County; whether, upon appeal by the pension officer, Mrs. Rourke produced a certificate of marriage from the Rev. James O'Beirne, P.P., Killeigh, showing that the marriage took place on 30th November, 1872, and that Mrs. Rourke was then thirty-five years of age; can he say upon what grounds the Local Government Board disallowed the pension; and whether this case will be reconsidered by the Board?

Mr. BIRRELL

There was no child named Catherine in the return of the family of the claimant's parents in the 1841 Census, whilst in the 1851 return Catherine was given as seven years old,

from which it would appear that she is now about sixty-seven years of age. In these circumstances, and no other satisfactory evidence being forthcoming, the Local Government Board disallowed Mrs. Rourke's claim. The claimant was married on the date stated, but the Board are not now in possession of her marriage certificate, and are consequently unable to say whether her age was given on it.

Mr. JOHN ROCHE

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the cause for depriving Denis Minton, of Corballymore, Kilnekle, county Galway, of an old age pension?

Mr. BIRRELL

Three claims of Denis Minton have been before the Local Government Board on appeal. On the last occasion the Board upheld the decision of the pension sub-committee that Minton was not entitled to an old age pension on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory limit.