§ Captain SHEEHANasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that certain payments are long overdue to Mr. Maurice Murphy, Macroom, and Mr. C. M. Lynch, Ballyvourney, late clerks to Macroom (Nos. 1 and 2) old age pensions sub-committees, and that repeated applications have been made to the responsible authorities for payment without avail; and whether he will institute inquiries as to the cause of the delay and see that payment of the sums due is forthwith made?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe delay which has occurred in this matter is in no way due to the action of any Government Department. Orders for payment of the amounts known to the Board of Customs and Excise to be due to Mr. Murphy and Mr. Lynch were, in accordance with the regulations, issued to the clerk to the local pension committee as far back as June and April, 1915, but apparently have not reached them, as they have not been cashed. The amounts due in respect of certain other fees, etc., cannot be calculated until the necessary information, for which the clerk has been repeatedly asked, has been supplied. Fresh orders are, in the exceptional circumstances, being sent direct to Mr. Murphy and Mr. Lynch in lieu of the uncashed orders of June and April, 1915, but payment of the other fees, etc., cannot be authorised unless and until the necessary information is supplied.