I move the adjournment of the Dáil until Tuesday at 3 o'clock.
ADJOURNMENT. - CO. CLARE OLD AGE PENSION CLAIM.
I gave notice that I would raise on the adjournment a question about the refusal of the Ministry of Local Government to continue the payment of an old age pension to Mr. Lynch, of Querrin, Lisdeen, Co. Clare, who has already enjoyed it for 15 years. I do so, not alone to draw particular attention to this individual case, but to get an expression of opinion from the responsible Ministers as to their policy with regard to kindred cases and its application to farmers similarly situated to this man. It appears that he has been in receipt of the pension for something like 15 years. He assigned his land, to come within the terms of the Act. I do not want to say much on the morality of the thing, but in any case it has been legalised, and his position is quite clear up to the present. On the strength of that presumably he was allowed certain freedom. I am informed the freedom he was allowed was a room in the house, sufficient turf for a fire, milk, £5 a year, and the use of a jennet. In a reply by the Minister for Finance on behalf of the Minister for Local Government, I was told that in this case he had estimated the value of the claimant's maintenance on the son's farm exceeded £49 17s. 6d. yearly, and that it debarred him from the receipt of the pension; that the extent of the holding is 42 acres, the valuation is £16 13s., and the rent or annuity £12. From my knowledge of farming, when I see a holding of 42 acres, the valuation of which is only £16. I am forced to the conclusion that it is necessarily bad land and very difficult to make a living on. I am forced to the conclusion that £2 a week is the greatest productive capacity of that farm, even if the produce is sold under the most favourable circumstances. On that the family of the present owner, consisting, I understand, of 10 or 12 persons, have to be maintained. We certainly sympathise with the Ministry in endeavouring to bring down expenses, and to rigidly apply the Old Age Pensions Act, but in this case, where the claimant received 5/- originally, and later 10/-, I do not see why, at this stage he should be deprived altogether of the pension. By all means reduce it proportionately. Even in the hey-day of war prices the man evidently got the full pension. I feel that it is necessary the Minister should state his attitude towards farmers who assigned their land on the strength of the Old Age Pensions Act to their sons.
I am not quite clear as to what Deputy Connor Hogan is driving at. If this farm was assigned on the strength of getting the old age pension, the man would not be entitled to anything. It does not make any difference at all, so long as the farm is in the family, whether it belongs to the old man or to any member of his family.
The Dáil adjourned at 4.4 p.m. until Tuesday, the 11th March.