Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 10th March, 2017.

I, LEO VARADKAR, Minister for Social Protection, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 4 (amended by section 96 of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011 (No. 10 of 2011)) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (No. 26 of 2005), and by section 198 (amended by section 11 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2013 (No. 38 of 2013)) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 , with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, hereby make the following Regulations:

Citation and construction

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Welfare Allowance) (Amendment) (No. 1) (Diet Supplement) Regulations 2017.

(2) These Regulations and the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Welfare Allowance) Regulations 2007 to 2016 shall be construed together as one and may be cited together as the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Welfare Allowance) Regulations 2007 to 2017.

Rate of diet supplement

2. Article 17 (amended by article 6 of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Welfare Allowance) (Amendment) (No. 1) (Diet Supplement) Regulations 2014 ( S.I. No. 36 of 2014 )) of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Welfare Allowance) Regulations 2007 ( S.I. No. 412 of 2007 ) is amended by the insertion of the following sub-article after sub-article (4):

“(4A) Notwithstanding sub-article (4), in the case of a claimant who is in receipt of a supplement under Part 4 of these Regulations, any increase in the weekly rate of benefit or assistance payable to that claimant, as provided for—

(a) by the Social Welfare Act 2016 (No. 15 of 2016), or

(b) by virtue of Regulations made, on or after 2 March 2017 but before 9 March 2017, under the Principal Act, insofar as such Regulations relate to an increase in the weekly rate of benefit or assistance,

shall not have the effect of reducing the rate of supplement below that which was payable before the said increase occurs.”.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform consents to the foregoing Regulations.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

6 March 2017.

PASCHAL DONOHOE,

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

7 March 2017.

LEO VARADKAR,

Minister for Social Protection.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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

These Regulations provide that the 2017 budgetary increases in Social Welfare payments shall not have the effect of reducing the rate of diet supplement below that which was payable before the said increase occurred.