§ Mr. O'SHEEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether William Fitzgerald, of Glenbeg, Dungarvan, county Waterford, and his wife, Mary Fitzgerald, were both in receipt of old age pensions up to the 25th September, 1915; whether the local pensions officer requested a review of the cases by the 1951W local pensions committee on the ground that William Fitzgerald, though well over seventy years, had substantial earnings as a blacksmith; whether the local pensions committee after hearing the facts decided that both the old persons were entitled to the pensions; whether the Local Government Board, on appeal by the pensions officer, refused the pensions; and whether, if William Fitzgerald can now show that his increasing age has rendered him almost totally incapable and that his earnings are much reduced, the Local Government Board will reconsider their decision?
§ Mr. SHORTTThese persons were in receipt of pensions, as stated, up to the 25th September, 1915, when the pensions were disallowed by the Dungarvan Rural Pension Sub-committee, and their decision confirmed on appeal, after local inquiry by one of the inspectors of the Local Government Board. In addition to the husband's earnings as blacksmith, he appeared to have some interest in a public-house and grocery business in Dungarvan, kept by a daughter, and he dealt in cattle for a brother-in-law who lived with him and who had a farm of 30 acres carrying fourteen cows. Since the disallowance of the pensions, these people have made three fresh claims, the last in February of the present year, which have all been disallowed. If they can show that their means have decreased, it is open to them to make new claims.