STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS.

S.I. No. 91 of 1999.

SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 1999 (SECTIONS 19, 21, 23 & 24) (COMMENCEMENT) ORDER, 1999.

S.I. No. 91 of 1999.

SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 1999 (SECTIONS 19, 21, 23 & 24) (COMMENCEMENT) ORDER, 1999.

The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 25 of the Social Welfare Act, 1999 ( No. 3 of 1999 ), hereby orders as follows:

Citation

1. This Order may be cited as the Social Welfare Act, 1999 (Sections 19, 21, 23 and 24) (Commencement) Order, 1999.

Commencement

2. The 6th day of April, 1999, is hereby appointed as the day on which sections 19, 21, 23 and 24 of the Social Welfare Act, 1999 (No. 3 of 1999) , 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 Sections 19, 21, 23 and 24 of the Social Welfare Act, 1999 shall come into effect on the 6th day of April, 1999.

These Sections provide for improvements in a number of social welfare schemes as follows:

* Section 19 replaces the Death Grant scheme with a new improved Bereavement Grant.

* Section 21 provides for the payment of special Old Age (Contributory) Pension for certain self-employed contributors who were aged over 56 years in 1988.

* Section 23 improves the transitional arrangements for Deserted Wives and Prisoners Wives.

* Section 24 extends the exemption period from 1 to 2 years applicable to Volunteer Development Workers returning to Ireland.