§ Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the application of James M'Gowan, of Flaughanagh, Dromahair, county Leitrim, for a dependant's allowance out of his son, Private John M'Gowan, No. 3191, 7th Leinsters, has been considered; whether the fact that M'Gowan came from the United States of America to join the Irish Brigade, and was allowing his father, James M'Gowan 3s. 6d. per week out of his pay, had been considered; and, if not, will it be?
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§ Mr. FORSTERYes, Sir, the allowance has been assessed at 5s. 5d. per week, which includes the allotment from the soldier's pay, and that sum is being paid regularly.
§ Mr. MEEHANasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the War Office Appeal Committee disallowed a claim of 10s. per week, soldier's dependant's allowance to Mrs. E. Gallagher, of Cordiver, Ballyshannon, county Leitrim, mother of Private Thomas Gallagher, No. 7595, Irish Guards, who enlisted in Glasgow on the 15th of April, 1915, on the ground that she was in receipt of the old age pension; and whether, having regard to the fact that previous to the enlistment of her son she received 15s. per week from him and that the Ballyshannon pension committee, after fully in-investigating the matter, made an allowance of 10s. per week, the case will be recosidered and all arrears allowed her?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe claim for separation allowance was not disallowed on the ground that Mrs. Gallagher was in receipt of an old age pension, but owing to the fact that in claiming old age pension she did not admit the receipt of any support from her son.
Mr. MEEHAMasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that James Timoney, of Dromahair, county Leitrim, who had been bought out of the Army previous to the declaration of war, re-enlisted in the Irish Guards on the 19th January, 1915, at a recruiting meeting in Dromahair on an assurance being given him by the recruiting officer and others that his mother would be refunded the £10 she paid to buy him out and that, on application to the War Office, she was allowed only £5; and whether having regard to these facts and that Mrs. Timoney is a very poor woman, the case will be reconsidered and her money refunded?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am informed, on inquiry, that no promise of any refund was given. The maximum refund allowable under the Regulations in this case is £5.