Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 27th October, 2017.

I, REGINA DOHERTY, Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 26 (3) of the Social Welfare Act 2016 (No. 15 of 2016) (as adapted by the Social Protection (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2017 (No. 366 of 2017)), hereby order as follows:

1. This Order may be cited as the Social Welfare Act 2016 (Section 9(b)) (Commencement) Order 2017.

2. The 27th day of October 2017 is appointed as the day on which section 9 (b) of the Social Welfare Act 2016 (No. 15 of 2016) shall come into operation.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

24 October 2017.

REGINA DOHERTY,

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does nor purport to be a legal interpretation).

This Commencement Order brings section 9 (b) of the Social Welfare Act 2016 into operation as and from 27 October 2017.

Section 9 (b) of the Social Welfare Act 2016 provides for the expansion of the Treatment Benefit scheme, to provide for the re-introduction of the dental scale and polish and the restoration of the optical benefit scheme, including either free spectacles or a contribution towards upgraded spectacles to both employed contributors and self-employed contributors.