S.I. No. 702 of 2007

SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT 2007 (SECTION 9) (COMMENCEMENT) ORDER 2007

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

�Iris Oifigi�il� of 19th October, 2007.

The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 1 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 (No. 8 of 2007), hereby orders as follows:

1. This Order may be cited as the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 (Section 9) (Commencement) Order 2007.

2. The 26th day of September 2007 is appointed as the day on which section 9 (other than paragraphs (b), (e)(i), (g)(i) and (i) of that section) of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 (No. 8 of 2007) comes into operation.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs.

this 26th day of September 2007.

MARTIN CULLEN.

Minister for Social and Family Affairs.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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

This Order provides for the commencement of Section 9 (other than paragraphs (b), (e)(i), (g)(i) and (i) of that section) of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007

Section 9 contains an amendment of the provisions governing the means test for the purposes of Jobseeker�s Allowance, Pre-Retirement Allowance, Disability Allowance and Farm Assist. The amendment provides that the means of a couple will be halved where the claimant�s spouse or partner is in receipt of a social welfare payment in his or her own right, or is participating in certain approved courses.

This section comes into effect on 26 September 2007.