asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health to state on what grounds the claim for increase in old age pension by Michael Gilbride, Ruskey, Buckode, Co. Leitrim, which was recently on appeal before his Department, was refused.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pension Claim (Leitrim).
This claim on appeal was refused, as I was not satisfied that means as calculated for old age pension purposes were less than £26 2s. 6d. a year.
Is the Minister aware that the applicant resides with his brother, his sister and his mother who is the owner of the farm? Is the Minister aware that he holds no property whatever and that his mother is in receipt of 10/- a week pension? Why, therefore, does the Minister say that he is not satisfied that the means of the applicant are less than £26 2s. 6d. a year?
The case was decided on the facts as they were before the Department. If there are any additional facts that the claimant thinks should be put before the Department and have not already been put before the Department, it is open to him to make a statement of these facts when making a fresh claim; but if he has no further facts to put before the Department, then there is no use in his making a fresh claim.
Would the Minister be prepared when he reconsiders the applicant's case if he is satisfied that the Department made a mistake in arriving at their calculations in the earlier examination, to make the pension retrospective from the date of the first application?