§ Mr. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state why James M'Kean, of Samagh, Aghnacliffe, has been refused the 2s. 6d. increase to his pension; whether he is aware that he is living with a nephew who has only two acres of land and has five in family to support; and will he have inquiry made into this man's case and the 2s. 6d. which Parliament voted for such cases granted?
§ Mr. DUKEThis matter has been twice investigated by the Local Government Board. They report to me that the pensioner is not eligible for the increase.
§ Mr. ARCHDALEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Mrs. Boles, No. 124 on the pension officer's register, Blacklion, county Cavan, an old ago pensioner, receiving 5s. a week, is supported by her son-in-law, Thomas Walmsley, who has to support a delicate wife, three children, and a deformed brother, on a wage from all sources of 12s. a week; and whether he will take steps to obtain reconsideration of this case and to grant Mrs. Boles an extra 2s. 6d.?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Local Government Board report to me that upon investigation of this case they were satisfied the means of the pensioner exceeded 12s. 6d. a week.
§ Mr. D. BOYLEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the old age pension claim of John Timony, Ballyduffy, Lahardane, Crossmolina, county Mayo, has been disallowed; and if he is aware that his claim has been thrice sanctioned by the local pensions committee as being fully qualified for the pension?
§ Mr. DUKEThe local pension committee passed the claim of John Timony, Crossmolina, county Mayo, on three occa-938W sions. It has been disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal on the ground that the claimant's means exceeded the statutory limit.
§ Mr. BOYLEasked on what grounds the increased old age pension claim of Patrick O'Hora, Ballytigue, Glenhest, county Mayo, has been disallowed by the Local Government Board, although the claim has been sanctioned as deserving by the Newport Pensions Committee?
§ Mr. DUKEPatrick O'Hora's claim for the additional allowance was disallowed by the Local Government Board on the ground that the means of the pensioner and his wife, including 5s. a week old age pension, exceeded 19s. 6d. a week.
§ Mr. BOYLEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the grounds upon which the pension claim (old age) of Mrs. Margaret Dyra, Glenhest, in the Newport, county Mayo, sub-pension area, has been disallowed; if he is aware that the small holding which she formerly owned has been sold in payment of debt; that she is now dependent on relatives not legally responsible for her maintenance and is over eighty years of age; and that her claim to pension has been sanctioned by the local pensions committee?
§ Mr. DUKEThe question appears to relate to the case of a pensioner whose name is given to me as Bridget Dyra. This pensioner assigned a farm of 107 acres of land with turbary to her sons. There is no evidence of any sale to pay debts.
§ Mr. BOYLEasked why the old age pension claim of Michael Murphy, Driminaffrin, Bangor, Erris, county Mayo, has been disallowed by the Local Government Board; and if any independent inquiry had been made by the Board before their decision was arrived at?
§ Mr. DUKEThe old age pension claim of Mr. Michael Murphy, of Driminaffrin, was disallowed on the ground of means. The claimant had assigned two farms to an unmarried son in February, 1912, the return from which would have brought his means over the statutory limit.
§ Mr. F. MEEHANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Maria Gilligan, of Ross, was awarded an old age pension of 5s. by the Manorhamilton sub-committee in February, 939W 1914, and on appeal by the pension officer it was reduced to 3s.; and whether, having regard to the fact that she has no other means of living, the full amount will be now allowed and all arrears paid?
§ Mr. DUKEIt appears that the pensioner wishes her case reconsidered with a view to her pension of 3s. a week being increased, and it is open to her to get the local pension officer to raise a question with that object.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division) whether he has received communications in reference to the increased cost of living in Ireland showing that 7s. 6d. per week is under the minimum for which any old age pensioner can live; and whether, in view of this, he will take steps for making the increase of 2s. 6d. per week automatic in all cases?
§ Mr. BALDWINI have received a statement through the hon. Member to this effect. As regards the last part of the question, I may refer to the numerous replies which I have given recently. I may point out that any pensioner is already eligible for an additional allowance of 2s. 6d. a week, if the pension committee consider that the circumstances of his case justify it, provided that it does not raise his total means (including the old age pension) above 13s. a week, or in the case of a married couple 20s. a week.