asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he can state why Bridget McAndrew (Peter), of Graughill, Barnatra, Ballina, Co. Mayo, was refused the old age pension which has been repeatedly passed by the pensions committee, and in respect of whom affidavits were made by a Mrs. Cafferkey of Gorthmelia, Barnatra, Ballina, Co. Mayo, who is 87 years of age.
WRITTEN ANSWERS - CO. MAYO OLD AGE PENSION CLAIMS
This claim was disallowed on appeal on the 19th of March last, as the Minister was not satisfied on the evidence submitted that the claimant had attained the statutory age for the receipt of a pension. No baptismal certificate was furnished, and the affidavit of Anthony Monaghan, which was the only one received in connection with the case, was not considered sufficiently conclusive to establish the claimant's age. A fresh claim is now before the Department on appeal, and an inspector is being deputed to make local investigation as to her age.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he can state why the old age pension of Mrs. Catherine Bourke, of Pulathomas, Ballina, Co. Mayo, was not allowed; whether he is aware that she has a sister receiving the pension for the last five years, and that Catherine was born eighteen months after her, and whether, as affidavits to that effect were made and submitted to the Pensions Committee who passed the claim, he will have a pension awarded in this case.
This claim is at present before the Department for adjudication on appeal. It is not possible at the moment to answer the Deputy's question in detail, as the file of papers has been referred to an inspector of the Department for local investigation. When his report is received a decision will be given.