§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will have inquiry made into the reasons why the claims to old age pensions have not been granted in the following cases, all in the parish of Glenbeigh: Mrs. Shea (née Connor), Tirnanagh, who is shown by the parish register to have been married fifty-one years; Mrs. Mary Moriarty (née Connor), whose baptismal certificate shows she was born in Glencar on 27th December, 1836; Mrs. Catherine M'Mahon (née Shea), Cool-roe Upper; Mrs. Mary Diggin, Mountain Stage; Mrs. Ellen Bourke, Upper Droum; Mrs. Mary Moriarty, Bunglash, Glencar; Mrs. Simon Harris, Reenanalagane; Andrew O'Sullivan, Glenbeigh; Batt Sullivan, Droun; and Mrs. Julia Riordan (née Golden), Coolnoharrigle, who has been married forty-three years?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe claim of Mrs. Shea for an old age pension was disallowed by the Local Government Board, as she was unable to prove that she had reached the statutory age. No information was produced as to the date of her marriage when her case was being investigated. Mary Moriarty's pension was discontinued in May, 1911, her age at that time being 69 years, according to the Census Returns. Her case has not since come before the Board. Ellen Bourke's claim was disallowed in May, 1913. She alleged that she was born prior to 1844, but was unable to furnish any evidence in support of her statement. The Board investigated her case through one of their inspectors, but he was unable to obtain satisfactory evidence of age. Julia Reardon's claim was disallowed by the pensions committee in December, 1909, and the decision was confirmed by the Board in April, 1910. No evidence was submitted as to the date of her marriage. In the remaining cases referred to by the hon. Member the claims were disallowed by the Board as there was794W no evidence to show that the claimants had reached the statutory age.