STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS.

S.I. No. 141 of 1999.

SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 1997 (SECTION 29) (COMMENCEMENT) ORDER, 1999.

S.I. No. 141 of 1999.

SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 1997 (SECTION 29) (COMMENCEMENT) ORDER, 1999.

The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 29 of the Social Welfare Act, 1997 ( No. 10 of 1997 ), hereby orders as follows:

Citation.

1. This Order may be cited as the Social Welfare Act, 1997 (Section 29) (Commencement) Order, 1999.

Commencement

2. The 4th day of May, 1999, is hereby appointed as the day on which section 29 of the Social Welfare Act, 1997 ( No. 10 of 1997 ), shall come into operation.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

This Order provides that section 29 of the Social Welfare Act, 1997 will come into effect on the 4th day of May, 1999.

Section 29 provides that decisions regarding payments due to the Department by liable relatives are now a Deciding Officer function, thereby affording the person concerned the right of appeal to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.

This section also provides regulatory powers to specify the manner in which the amount to be contributed by the liable relative is calculated. It further provides that a divorced person will remain liable to contribute towards the cost of benefit or assistance paid to his or her former spouse.