asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether the claim of Mrs. Mary Finlay, Tullyvogey, Tydavnet, Monaghan, for an increase in her old age pension is now before him on appeal by the pensions officer; whether he will state the approximate date upon which this claim will be decided, and whether he will also state in detail the headings under which the pensions officer has assessed her income, and the amount attributed to her under each heading.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Co. Monaghan Old Age Pension.
Such a claim is at present before the Department on appeal.
Is the Minister aware that this claimant is a widow and that she is entitled by law only to one-third of this estate, the valuation of which is £5 15s.?
I am aware that the case is before the Department on appeal. I am sure the applicant has left no detail or fact unplaced before the Department or the Pensions Committee in connection with the claim.
Seeing that the Minister will have to decide this claim any of these days, surely he has acquainted himself with the facts. I think he ought to answer the question, whether he is aware of the facts I have stated or not. If he is not aware of them, it is likely that he will come to a decision that will be unfair to the claimant. I should like to ask him, further, if he is aware that this claimant contributes her pension to the family exchequer and that this holding, valued at £5 15s., has to maintain the claimant, her son and his wife and three children. If the Minister is not aware of these facts, it is time he made himself aware of them.
Does the Deputy take up the attitude that a person who applies for an old age pension does not place all the material facts before the Pensions Committee and the Department? If the Deputy takes up that attitude, I think he is in error. The Deputy completely misunderstands the function of the Local Government Minister in connection with old age pension appeals. If he thinks that every old age pension appeal has to come down to the table of the Minister and that the Minister has to consider every factor, he misunderstands the whole scheme.