§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Peter Dowd, of Rover, Ballyfarnon, Ballyfarnon (No. 2) old age pension sub-committee district, county Sligo, has been refused a 1955W pension by the Local Government Board, although it was granted on two occasions by the local committee; whether this man was refused because his name does not appear in the Census records of either 1841 or 1851; whether he is aware that two old age pensioners have sworn affidavits to the effect that Dowd is only two years younger than his brother Pat, whose age is found in the Census Return of 1841 as being two years, which would leave the present applicant seventy-two years of age; and whether, seeing that Dowd's father was evicted in 1840 and that he and his family were wandering about, which prevented the registration of applicant's age, steps will be taken to have a pension granted to this man?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe facts are as stated in the question. The affidavits referred to were practically only uncorroborated expressions of opinion, and accordingly in the absence of sufficient evidence of age the Local Government Board had no option but to disallow the claim.