asked the Minister for Defence if he will state whether an application for a pension in respect of the death of her son, Liam, has been received from Mrs. Sarah Mellowes, 87 Ceannt's Fort, Mount Brown, Dublin; whether the application has been considered, and whether it is proposed to grant a pension to Mrs. Mellowes, whose health is broken and who is advanced in years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Application for Pension.
Mrs. Sarah Mellowes, 87 Ceannt's Fort, Mount Brown, Dublin, applied in January, 1940, for consideration under the Army Pensions Acts in respect of the death of her son, Liam. As, however, the time limit prescribed by the Acts for accepting such an application had expired, it could not be considered under existing Army pensions legislation.
In view of the fact that Mrs. Mellowes made an application before the 1934 Pensions Act was passed and has had correspondence with members of the Government— there are letters which she can now produce—will the Minister take that into consideration and deem the correspondence, together with the original application made by her, to be an application for a pension within the meaning of the Act? Mrs. Mellowes can produce abundant evidence that she was in continuous communication with members of the Government in respect to her claim for a pension or gratuity and surely it should be possible to deem that correspondence as a form of application, even though the lady in question might not have later complied with the strict formalities of the law?
I am considering an extension of the time limit for applications, and the lady in question will probably come under that.
Will that be done at an early date?
I could not say at the moment, but it will be done as soon as I have time to attend to it.
Will the Minister in the meantime consider letters referring to her application to be an application within the meaning of the Act?
So far as the Department are concerned, there is no legal application before them for a pension or gratuity. The only way she can be brought in is through the medium of the extended period.
If evidence is produced to the Minister, consisting of a letter to another Minister intimating that in 1932 there was no legislative authority to grant a pension or gratuity but pointing out at the same time that her application would be considered when the necessary legislation had been introduced and passed, will he be prepared to deem that as an application? Quite frankly, the correspondence intimates that her case would be dealt with then.
I shall have that point examined.