asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that the claim to an old age pension of Mrs. Kate Ryan, Cross Keys, Kildare, passed by the Nass South Pensions Sub-Committee was appealed against by the Pensions Officer; whether he is aware that Mrs. Ryan was supported in her claim by the affidavit of an old man who stated that she was well over seventy years of age; that she is unable to produce any certificate, but states that she was twenty-eight years old when married in 1882, and that any person, judging from her appearance, would say that she is at least seventy, he will reconsider the case with a view to granting the pension.
WRITTEN ANSWERS. - OLD AGE PENSION CLAIM (KILDARE).
An appeal on age was received on the 15th instant against the recent decision of the Naas South Pensions Committee proposing to allow a pension of nine shillings a week in this case. The claimant's baptismal certificate has not been produced. She was merely recorded as "full age" at her marriage on the 10th September, 1882. A declaration has been received from the claimant in which she states that she is over 70 years of age. It mentions no relevant fact connected with her life history in support of her statement. A letter of testimony from a neighbour has also been received, but no other affidavit or declaration. The evidence so far submitted is held not to be sufficient to establish age or to justify the grant of the old age pension. A formal decision in the case will be deferred for a couple of weeks to afford a further opportunity to the claimant of putting forward any definite and reasonably conclusive evidence to show that she has attained the age of 70 years.