§ Mr. JAMES O'KELLYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will consider the case of Mrs. Elizabeth Byrne, of Ballagh Hill Street, county Roscommon, a widow, occupying six acres of land, and at present in receipt of an old age pension of 3s. weekly, with a view to granting her the full pension 5s. weekly?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIf the pensioner in question is dissatisfied with her present rate of pension it is open to her to have a question raised for an increase by communicating with the pension officer.
§ Mr. JAMES O'KELLYalso asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of James Morahan, of Cornagrea, Boyle, who was passed two years ago for an old age pension, when a question arose about his getting Poor Law relief and he was thrown on the Poor Law; whether he is aware that his allowance of 2s. a week is inadequate for his support; that the obstacle to his getting the pension is that the record of his age cannot be found; and whether, seeing that the pension officer has expressed his belief that Morahan is of pensionable age, but at the time of the first application Poor Law relief debarred him from getting the pension and that he has no land, the Local Government Board will reconsider Morahan's ease?
§ Mr. BIRRELLJames Morahan's claim was disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal in March, 1909, on the grounds of insufficient evidence of age, and the Board have no power to reopen the case.
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§ Mr. BOLANDasked on what grounds Jeremiah Shea, Rossmore, Tahilla, has not been given a full old age pension grant, in view of the unanimous decision of the local pension committee?
§ Mr. BIRRELLA pension of 3s. a week was allowed in this case, as, having regard to the claimant's means, the Local Government Board did not consider that he was entitled to any higher rate of pension.
§ Mr. GUINEYasked the cause of the delay in granting pensions to Aeneas Lane and his wife, of Keeltane, Freemount, county Cork, who formerly held a farm of thirty-two acres of inferior land which they assigned to their son on marriage two years ago, reserving an annuity of £10 a year each, with room free in house and no maintenance; and, seeing that these cases have been under consideration for a long period, will the Local Government Board send an inspector to investigate the case?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe claims made by Aeneas Lane and his wife for old age pensions have been disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal on the grounds that the claimants' means exceeded the statutory limit, and the Board have no power to reopen consideration of either of the cases.