asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the reasons why the old age pension which was granted to John McPartlan, Glackaun, Altagowlan, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, in September, 1909, was withdrawn in June of last year.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - WITHDRAWN OLD AGE PENSION.
A pension was allowed in this case from the 14th of October, 1909, by the Manorhamilton Pension Sub-Committee without appeal. A record of the pensioner's baptism on the 6th of July, 1852, was subsequently discovered. A question raised therefore about June, 1927, for the discontinuance of the pension came up on appeal. The pensioner was afforded ample opportunity to show that the baptismal record was inaccurate, or that it did not relate to himself. He failed, however, to furnish any such proof, and on the 28th of July, 1927, it was determined that during the period from the 14th of October, 1909, to the 4th of July, 1922, he did not fulfil the statutory condition as to age and was not entitled to receive any pension.
Is the Minister aware that the Pensions Sub-Committee of Manorhamilton were satisfied on appeal in June of last year that the applicant had fulfilled the statutory obligations? If we are to assume that the irregularities suggested by the pensions officer as to age are correct, having regard to the fact that during the period in which the applicant received the pension it was paid by the British Treasury, does he intend to withhold the pension from him now for money received as an old age pensioner from the British Government?
The position so far as the facts established to the satisfaction of the Government are concerned is that this man was in receipt of an old age pension that he was not entitled to for years. So far as doing anything in the matter now is concerned, that is entirely for the Revenue Commissioners, not for this Department.