§ Mr. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the grounds on which the Local Government Board reduced the old age pension granted to Michael Heaney, Long ford Sub-Committee, from 5s. to 3s.; whether he is aware that this man is now practically destitute and his sister also; and if he will direct that both have the full amounts granted to them?
§ Mr. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why Mary Noonan, Kill-sallagh, Edgeworthstown, has, after six years, been deprived of her old age pension; why the pension officer valued other people's property against her merely because they took her in to let her end her days in comfort; and if he will direct that further inquiries be made into this case?
§ Mr. DUKEMary Noonan lives with and is maintained by her son, Patrick Noonan, who works two farms of 74 acres, very well stocked, carrying fourteen cattle, one horse, four store pigs, and fowl. Her benefits and privileges are estimated to exceed £31 10s. per annum. The Local Government Board are not aware that the pension officer has taken other people's property into consideration in her case.
§ Mr. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the reason for taking his old age pension from Francis M'Nally, Cartrongolan, Drumlish; whether he is aware that this man has without question enjoyed the pension since 1910; that his income is actually less now than when the pension was first given; and will he direct the Local Government Board to direct that this man's pension be restored?
§ Mr. DUKEFrancis M'Nally's pension was discontinued on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory limit. The Local Government Board have no information as to his means in 1910, but if they were greater than at present he should not have been in receipt of a pension. The Board have no power to restore the pension.
§ Mr. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why John Cullen, of Long field, Edgeworthstown, has been refused an old age pension although owning no land or other means; and if he will direct a special inquiry into this case to prevent injustice to this old man?
§ Mr. DUKEJohn Cullen, of Edgeworthstown, is one of a family consisting of two brothers and two sisters, who have a good farm of forty-four acres. They have, in addition, land taken on the eleven months' system at a rent of £22 a year. The family are reported to be well-to-do. There is no reason for holding a special inquiry because the case has already been fully investigated.
1924W
§ Mr. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the grounds on which Mrs. Anne Flood, Ringainey, Edgeworthstown, has been deprived of her old age pension after enjoying the same for some years; if he will explain why she should be deprived of it merely because her son gave her a home to save her life in the severe winter; and if he will direct that the pension be restored?
§ Mr. DUKEMrs. Anne Flood's pension was discontinued on the ground that her means exceeded the statutory limit. From the particulars furnished to the Local Government Board she should not have been in receipt of a pension. Support given by a son constitutes means within the meaning of Section 2 (1) (d) of the Old Pensions Act, 1911. The Board have no authority to restore the pension.
§ Mr. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why Owen Victory, Earl Street, Long ford, is refused the full pension to which he is entitled; whether he is aware that this man has no means and that the committee thrice granted him the full amount; and will he direct that the full pension be now granted?
§ Mr. DUKEOwen Victory, of Earl Street, Long ford, is in receipt; of a pension of 2s. a week, and the Local Government Board were not satisfied that he is entitled to a pension at a higher rate. He is not without means; he has land for which he pays a rent of £23 a year, also a house and stables. He keeps lodgers and lets the stables to people coming to the town on fair and market days. He has some cattle on his land.
§ Mr. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why Patrick Ward, of Corloggan, couny Long ford, Ardagh subcommittee, was deprived of his pension after two and a-half years; and whether, seeing that he is only a labourer living in a labourer's cottage, he will take steps to have this decision reversed?
§ Mr. DUKEThe case of Patrick Ward was the subject of a special report by an inspector of the Local Government Board. Besides the labourer's cottage and the acre of land which Ward holds under the Labourers Acts, he has for the past fifteen years been renting 8 acres of land at a rent of £1 15s. a year, I acre of garden at £1 7s. 6d., 4 to 5 acres of meadow at about £12 a year, and turf bank at 7s. a. 1925W perch. The following stock and crops were on the land: two cows, two calves, one yearling, one horse, two goats, twenty-eight fowl, 2 roods of potatoes, I rood of roots, ½ rood of vegetables; and, in addition, there had been sold four pigs for £19 and six calves for £60. He had also hay worth about £48 and turf worth about £24 a year, and he was receiving help from sons in America to the extent of at least £8 a year.