Mr. KELLYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the grounds on which Owen and Elizabeth Keting, of Earl Street, Longford, have been deprived of their old age pension; whether the new scale of allowances does not apply in this case; whether Owen Keting, having lost an arm in a surgical operation some years ago, has been practically disabled and totally unable to earn anything; whether he is aware that all his family with the exception of one daughter, has now gone away to earn for themselves, leaving the old couple practically penniless; whether the pension 1512W officer took into account the claims of these children on any chattels in the place in making his inquiries; and whether, as their circumstances are very poor, these old people's pension will now be restored?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThis case presumably refers to Owen and Elizabeth Victory. The pensions were disallowed on the ground that the means of the claimants exceeded £49 17s. 6d. each, and therefore these people are not entitled to pensions even under the Act of 1019. The Local Government Board have no information as to Owen Victory's physical condition, but his means consist of a piece of land rented on which he keeps cows and a varying number of stock, a posting and funeral establishment and a sum of £200 in the bank. He has a son as well as a daughter living with him. The case was specially investigated by one of the Board's inspectors, who reported that the house was a good one and that the family showed no sign of poverty.