§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Chief Secretary on what ground the Local Government Board, on the appeal of the pension officer, deprived James Benson, of Ballyloughane, Newcastle West, in the county of Limerick, of a pension; is he aware that his case is a very deserving one, and that the local pension committee granted him the pension being satisfied with the statements of old people in the locality that he was seventy years of age, and that he was not a member of the family of the same name in the locality where he was born, and who were small farmers who sold their place and emigrated to America, 1867W but that he belonged to the labouring class; and if he now applies for a pension, the pension officer and the Local Government Board will inquire more fully into his antecedents and not act on the name given in the Census Return of 1851, which cannot be his name?
§ Mr. BIRRELLJames Benson's claims for an old age pension have been disallowed by the Local Government Board as they were not satisfied that he had reached the statutory age. The statements referred to in the question were before the Board when deciding the appeals, and all information as to his antecedents were fully considered.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Chief Secretary how the Local Government Board decide the question of old age pensions in cases where no certificate as to age can be found; whether, in the case of Ellen Fleming, Ballylanders, county Limerick, whose claim was passed twice by the local pensions committee, but whose age could not be found in the Census Department nor in the local registrar's, the written assurance of several respectable persons, including Rev. Father Barry, P.P., Ballylanders, that the woman was beyond seventy were ignored; and why such a slight should be made by an official not acquainted with the people or the district on the priest and the other gentlemen who certified that the applicant was entitled to a pension?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board fully consider all evidence tendered to them of whatever nature bearing on the point of age. They did so in the present case, but were unable to regard the evidence furnished as sufficient for the purposes of the Act to establish that the claimant had reached the statutory age.