asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether the old age pension claim of John Rouse, of Quigubar, Kilglass, Co. Sligo, was disallowed on the ground of means; and, if so, will he give detailed particulars regarding the means of this claimant as estimated by the Pension Officer.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kilglass (Sligo) Application.
An appeal in this case was decided on the 19th March, 1931, the claim for a pension being disallowed, as I was not satisfied that the claimant's means, as calculated for pension purposes, were within the statutory limit (£39 5s. a year) for the receipt of a pension.
I have already been informed of that decision by letter but I asked the Minister if he would give detailed particulars regarding the means of this claimant as estimated by the Pension Officer. I am informed that this claimant owns a holding of 6½ acres of land, the valuation of which is £5 15s., and that the total stock on the holding is one cow, one calf, three pigs and one horse. Surely the Minister does not maintain that the income of a farm of this size should be sufficient to debar the claimant from getting an old age pension?
Claimants are afforded every opportunity of being present at meetings of the Pensions Committee and of examining the statement of the estimate of means put in by the local Pensions Officer. I am not prepared to argue here as to how many hens or cows any particular applicant for an old age pension may have.
I asked the Minister for detailed particulars regarding the means of this applicant as estimated by the Pensions Officer, and he has not not answered that portion of the question except in a general way.
I am not prepared to answer except in a general way questions of this particular kind. Every old age pensioner has an opportunity of going before the Pensions Committee and being present while the Pensions Officer makes any case that he has to make, and of hearing and examining in detail the statement of means that the Pensions Officer has put down. If he questions in any way the statements that the Pensions Officer makes with regard to his means, it is within his province to make representations to the Minister for Local Government, so that his representations can be taken into consideration when the appeal is being considered. But the Minister is an appeal authority in this matter, and he cannot in this House or in correspondence pursue to the last every item of argument upon which his decision in the matter of the appeal is based.
As the Minister has refused to give detailed particulars regarding the means estimated by the Pensions Officer, how does he expect the claimant to obtain that information from the Pensions Officer when he himself has refused to give it.
It is set down in black and white in a form duly filled in by the Pensions Officer and deposited with the Old Age Pensions Committee, and is discussed at the meeting of the Old Age Pensions Committee at which they make up their minds as to what their decision should be.
I am sure the Minister is aware that in many cases applicants for old age pensions, through age and infirmity, are unable to be present at the meeting of the Sub-Committee, and therefore they have no opportunity of rebutting the case put up against them by the Pensions Officer.
We cannot substitute for such discussion as would take place at the Pensions Committee, with the old age pensioner present, a discussion here.