asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he received an application for an old age pension from John Gahan, Cloncullane, Ballyroan, Leix, and if he will state the reason why he declines to sanction payment of same.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - OLD AGE PENSION CLAIMS.
This claim was disallowed on appeal on the 10th of June last after local investigation of the facts bearing on means had been made by one of the Department's General Inspectors.
Can the Minister say on what grounds the claim was disallowed?
The claimant gets board and lodging free from a brother who has a well cultivated and well stocked farm of 18 acres, the poor law valuation being £23 15s. 0d. I was not satisfied that the cost of his maintenance was less than £39.
Are we to understand that it is the Minister's view that the value of maintenance must have some relation to the relatives' means, and also the poor law valuation of the holding?
I assume that the inspector takes all the relevant facts into consideration in coming to a decision.