§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Chief Secretary on what grounds the Local Government Board refused a pension to Michael Quin, of Ballyvelode, Oola, county Limerick; were they aware that the applicant suffers from palsy and that he has only three acres of inferior land; will he explain why the word of the person acting as pension officer, and who knows nothing of the merits of the case, is taken in preference to that of the local clergy and the other public representatives who act on the local committee; and will he-explain how it is maintained that this man earns £31 10s a year?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMichael Quin has a carpenter's shop, and he admitted to the pension officer that, notwithstanding the state of his health, he was able to work at his trade. He is assisted by his son, who also works around the district, and he admitted that he receives from his daughter, who is in service, sums of money averaging about £2 a year. He owns three acres of land, and at the time of his claim he had two cows and a calf. If his means have changed, or he is no longer able to work at his trade, it is open to him to make a fresh claim.
§ Mr. HACKETTasked whether James. Walsh was refused an old age pension by the Local Government Board on appeal by the pension officer from the decision of the Slievardagh Pension Sub-committee granting him a full pension, and that he has no visible means, but is supported by his nephew, upon whom he has no legal claim; and whether the Local Government Board were aware of this when determining that he was not entitled to any pension?
§ Mr. BIRRELLJames Walsh's claim for an old age pension was disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal on the ground that he is supported by his nephew who owns a well stocked farm of upwards of seventy acres. Under Section 2 (d) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1911, the yearly value of any benefit or privileges enjoyed by a claimant for old age pension must be-reckoned as part of his means irrespective of the conditions or terms under which these privileges are received.
§ Mr. HACKETTasked whether Pierce M'Grath was refused an old age pension by the Local Government Board on appeal by the pension officer from the decision of the 1021W Slievardagh Pension Sub-committee of the county Tipperary, S.R., that Pierce M'Grath has no visible means, and that he is living with his sister-in-law; and whether the Local Government Board were aware of this and took it into consideration when determining that he was not entitled to a pension?
§ Mr. BIRRELLPierce McGrath's claim for an old age pension was disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal on the ground that he lives with his sister-in-law on a well-stocked and well-tilled farm of upwards of eighty acres.
§ Mr. HACKETTasked the Chief Secretary whether Thomas Cormack, Granerin, Upperchureh, Thurles, was allowed a pension of 4s. per week by the Templemore Pension Sub-Committee, county Tipperary, N.R.; that the pension was appealed by the pension officer, and that the appeal was upheld by the Local Government Board; whether the Local Government Board were aware when they determined that he was not entitled to a pension that his means consisted of £20 per annum, and the grass of one horse on a mountain valued at £3 per annum, out of which he is paying his brother for his support; and will he take steps to have this pension granted?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThomas Cormack appears to be legally entitled to the privileges specified in the question, but the Local Government Board were not satisfied that they constituted his only means, and they accordingly disallowed his claim. In the circumstances, they have no power to reopen the case. It is always open to the claimant to renew his application for pension if he considers he has any further evidence to bring forward in support of his application.