§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that Mr. Joseph Smyth was employed in connection with the Office of Public Works in Dublin, and left the service in July, 1910, after upwards of twenty-eight years' service; that, when he entered the service, he was led to expect a pension and was so informed by an official of the Board; that, when he left the service, he was given only a gratuity calculated at the rate of a week's wages for each year of service; have all other workmen in the employment of the Board been similarly dealt with on retirement; can he say at what date the present regulations relating to pensions and gratuities were established, whether before Mr. Smyth entered the service or subsequently; is he aware that in a letter dated 18th June, 1910, addressed to the Reverend J. T. Mellifont, the Lord Lieutenant promised to recommend Mr. Joseph Smyth's case for favourable consideration; and, having regard to the circumstances, will he remit the case to the Office of Public Works, Dublin, for reconsideration of Smyth's claim for a pension; and can Members be furnished with copies of the regulations relating to retirement from such appointments as that above referred to?
§ Mr. MASTERMANMr. Smyth was granted a gratuity of one week's pay for each year of his service under Section 4 of the Superannuation Act, 1887, in the same manner as other workmen in the employment of the Board of Works, Dublin, the conditions of whose service do not entitle them to a pension. There is no record that any information was given to Mr. Smyth when he entered the service which could lead him to expect a pension, and there is no legal power under which any pension could be granted to him. The conditions under which gratuities are awarded are stated in the Act above mentioned.