asked the Minister for Finance if he will state why the old age pension of 6/- a week payable to Mr. Patrick Corbett, Moore Hall, Ballyglass, County Mayo, was withdrawn.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Withdrawal of Old Age Pension.
Where a person is one of a married couple living together, his means for old age pension purposes are taken to be one-half of the total means of the couple. When Mr. Corbett's claim to pension was investigated, his wife was alive and he was regarded as entitled to this concession. Mrs. Corbett died before her husband attained the age of 70 and, in consequence, his means should have been calculated at their actual figure without any allowance in respect of the wife. When the facts regarding Mrs. Corbett's death were ascertained, Mr. Corbett's old age pension was withdrawn.
Is the Minister aware that Mr. Corbett has no means; that at one time he had a small farm which he assigned to his son; that, after that took place, he was awarded a pension of 6/- which he applied to have increased to 10/-; that it was increased by the local committee to 10/-; that an appeal was made to the Department of Local Government; and that the pension was swept away altogether? Is it not as clear as daylight that Mr. Corbett is entitled not only to the 6/- pension but to the entire 10/- pension?
His means have been calculated at £52 per year.
Might I ask what his means are, considering the man has no means? Will the Minister have the matter investigated?
Certainly. It has been investigated once and can be investigated any time again on a further appeal being put in; but, so far, the man's means have been estimated at £52 per year.
Is the Minister going to stand over a decision of his Department without having an inquiry in the Department as to why a man who does not own any land, having given it over to his son, as elderly people have to do and as is regularly done, should be kept without his pension?