S.I. No. 97/1996:

SOCIAL WELFARE (CONTRIBUTIONS) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1996

SOCIAL WELFARE (CONTRIBUTIONS) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1996

The Minister for Social Welfare, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 4 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993 (No. 27 of 1993) and paragraph 12 (b) (inserted by section 12 of the Social Welfare Act, 1996 (No. 7 of 1996)) of the First Schedule to that Act, hereby makes the following Regulations:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Welfare (Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations, 1996.

(2) These Regulations, the Social Welfare (Contributions) Regulations 1953 to 1991 and the Social Welfare (Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations, 1994 ( S.I. No. 352 of 1994 ) shall be construed together as one and may be cited together as the Social Welfare (Contributions) Regulations 1953 to 1996.

2. In these Regulations--

"the Principal Regulations" means the Social Welfare (Contributions) Regulations, 1953 ( S.I. No. 5 of 1953 ); and

"the Regulations of 1990" means the Social Welfare (Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations, 1990 ( S.I. No. 88 of 1990 ).

3. The Principal Regulations are hereby amended by the substitution of Part V (as inserted by article 4 of the Regulations of 1990) of the following Part:

"Part V

ELECTION TO BECOME AN EMPLOYED CONTRIBUTOR

15. (1) A person who commences employment before the 6th day of April, 1996, under a scheme administered by An Foras Áiseanna Saothair and known as Community Employment or under a programme known as the Part Time Job Opportunities Programme administered by or on behalf of the Conference of Religious of Ireland may elect, with effect from the 6th day of April, 1996, to become an employed contributor within the meaning of section 9(1) (a) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993 , provided:

that the employer is so notified, by the employee concerned, not later than the 30th day of April, 1996.

(2) A person who elects under sub-article (1) to become an employed contributor within the meaning of section 9 (1) (a) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993 shall continue to be an employed contributor under the said section for the continuous duration of his employment under a scheme administered by An Foras Áiseanna Saothair and known as Community Employment or under a programme known as the Part Time Job Opportunities Programme administered by or on behalf of the Conference of Religious of Ireland.".

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Social Welfare,

this 4th day of April, 1996.

PROINSIAS DE ROSSA,

Minister for Social Welfare.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These Regulations provide that people who take up Community Employment or employment under a programme known as the Part Time Job Opportunities Programme prior to 6 April, 1996 may elect to become insured at Class A, with effect from 6 April, 1996 by notifying the employer to this effect before 30 April, 1996.