Updated to 18 February 2026 (Act No. 1 of 2026 and S.I. No. 54 of 2026)
All effects below are reflected in the most recent Revised Act.
Disability Act 2005
No. 14 of 2005
Contents
Commencement
| Section | Commencement/Effective Date Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Information |
|---|---|---|
| Ss. 1-6 | 29 July 2005 | Disability Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 474 of 2005), art. 3(1)(a) |
| Ss. 7-23 in relation to persons born on or after 1 June 2002 | 6 January 2022 | Disability Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 3 of 2022), art. 2 |
| Ss. 7-23 in relation to persons under 5 years of age | 1 June 2007 | Disability Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 234 of 2007), art. 2 |
| S. 24 | 29 July 2005 | Disability Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 474 of 2005), art. 3(1)(b) |
| S. 25 | 31 December 2005 | S. 25(7) |
| S. 26 | 31 December 2005 | S. 26(3) |
| S. 27 | 31 December 2005 | S. 27(4) |
| S. 28 | 31 December 2005 | S. 28(4) |
| S. 29 | 31 December 2007 | S. 29(4) |
| Ss. 30-37 | 29 July 2005 | Disability Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 474 of 2005), art. 3(1)(b) |
| Ss. 38-51 | 31 December 2005 | Disability Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 474 of 2005), art. 3(2)(a)-3(2)(c) |
| S. 52 | 1 January 2007 | Disability Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 474 of 2005), art. 3(3) |
| Ss. 53-58 | 29 July 2005 | Disability Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 474 of 2005), art. 3(1)(c) |
Amendments and other effects
| How Affected | Affecting Provision | Affecting Provision Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regard to be had to transport sectoral plan under Act | 15/2008, ss. 4, 12(5)(e), 64(2)(d) | 16 July 2008 | Commenced on enactment |
| Transfer of certain functions under | S.I. No. 688 of 2022, regs. 1(2), 2(b)(ii) | 1 March 2023 | S.I. No. 688 of 2022, regs. 1(2) |
| S.I. No. 436 of 2020, arts. 1(2), 2, 3, schedule 1 | 14 October 2020 | S.I. No. 436 of 2020, arts. 1(2) | |
| S.I. No. 139 of 2011, arts. 1(2), 3(1), schedule | 1 April 2011 | S.I. No. 139 of 2011, arts. 1(2) | |
| S.I. No. 217 of 2010, arts. 1(2), 2, 3 and sch., | 1 June 2010 | S.I. No. 217 of 2010, arts. 1(2) | |
| S. 2(1) definition of "public body" paragraph (e) amended | 44/2009, ss. 14(1), 15(3), schedule part 1 | 1 January 2010 | S. 15(3) |
| S. 3 functions transferred and references construed | S.I. No. 595 of 2023, arts. 1(2), 2-8 | 29 November 2023 | S.I. No. 595 of 2023, arts. 1(2) |
| S.I. No. 418 of 2011, arts. 1(2), 3 and sch. 1 | 29 July 2011 | S.I. No. 418 of 2011, arts. 1(2) | |
| Part 2 (ss. 7-23) transfer of functions | S.I. No. 688 of 2022, regs. 1(2), 4, schedule, part 2 | 1 March 2023 | S.I. No. 688 of 2022, regs. 1(2), 4, schedule, part 2 |
| S. 9(2)(a) amended | 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 170, schedule part. 5 item 23 | 1 January 2011 | Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 648 of 2010), art. 3 |
| S. 10 amended | 23/2007, ss. 3, 105, schedule 2 part 6 | 15 May 2007 | Health Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 226 of 2007), art. 2(e)(v) |
| S. 12(3) deleted | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(a) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| S. 13(4) deleted | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(b) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| S. 14 form for complaints prescribed | S.I. No. 263 of 2007, regs. 2, 23 | 1 June 2007 | S.I. No. 263 of 2007, regs. 2 |
| S. 14 time limit for complaints prescribed | S.I. No. 263 of 2007, regs. 2, 24 | 1 June 2007 | S.I. No. 263 of 2007, regs. 2 |
| S. 18 form for appeal prescribed under | S.I. No. 263 of 2007, regs. 2, 25 | 1 June 2007 | S.I. No. 263 of 2007, regs. 2 |
| S. 24 substituted | 1/2014, ss. 1(22), 5(8), schedule 2 pt. 6 | 24 March 2014 | Local Government Reform Act 2014 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 146 of 2014), art. 3(b) |
| S. 29(3) amended | 26/2023, ss. 1, 239 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(12) | |
| S. 29(3)(c) amended | 34/2024, ss. 1(3), 631, schedule 7, ref. no. 25 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(3) | |
| S. 30 code of practice prepared and approved | S.I. No. 484 of 2011, art. 2, schedule | 23 September 2011 | |
| S.I. No. 163 of 2006, art. 2, schedule | 6 April 2006 | ||
| S. 31(1)(g) inserted | 6/2022, ss. 1(2), 49 | 1 March 2023 | Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Commencement) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 666 of 2022), art. 2 |
| S. 32(1)(c) deleted | 6/2022, ss. 1(2), 50 | 1 March 2023 | Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Commencement) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 666 of 2022), art. 2 |
| S. 32(1)(d) deleted | 6/2022, ss. 1(2), 50 | 1 March 2023 | Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Commencement) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 666 of 2022), art. 2 |
| S. 32A inserted | 6/2022, ss. 1(2), 51 | 1 March 2023 | Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Commencement) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 666 of 2022), art. 2 |
| S. 35(1)(a) transfer of functions under | S.I. No. 842 of 2005, arts. 1(2), 4, schedule | 1 January 2006 | |
| S. 35(1)(b) transfer of functions under | S.I. No. 842 of 2005, arts. 1(2), 4, schedule | 1 January 2006 | |
| S. 40 amended | 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 25(a) | 31 October 2012 | S. 1(3) |
| S. 40(b) amended | 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 25(b) | 31 October 2012 | S. 1(3) |
| S. 40(d) amended | 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 25(c) | 31 October 2012 | S. 1(3) |
| S. 41 amended | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(c) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| S. 41 data controller of genetic information not specified for purposes of s. 16(1) of the Data Protection Act 1988 | S. I. No. 657 of 2007, reg. 4(g). See also reg. 4(h) in relation to data processor | 1 October 2007 | S. I. No. 657 of 2007, reg. 4(g). See also reg. 4(h) in relation to data processor |
| S. 42(1)(b) amended | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(d)(i) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| S. 42(2)(a) amended | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(d)(ii) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| S. 42(4) substituted | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(d)(iii) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| Ss. 42(5), 42(6) inserted | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(d)(iv) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| S. 43 deleted | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(e) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| S. 43(2)(c) amended | 23/2010, ss. 2, 15(8), schedule 2 part 8 item 1 | 1 October 2010 | Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 469 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 44(2) references construed | 7/2018, ss. 9, 14(2), 14(4) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| S. 44(2) amended | 23/2010, ss. 2, 15(8), schedule 2 part 8 item 2 | 1 October 2010 | Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 469 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 45(1) deleted | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(f) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| Part 5 (ss. 46-51) applied | S.I. No. 600 of 2006, art. 2 | 3 December 2006 | |
| S. 46(3) amended | 1/2024, ss. 1(2), 278 | 2 April 2025 | Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 107 of 2025), art. 2 |
| 46/2022, ss. 1(5), 101(a) | 26 April 2023 | Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 194 of 2023), art. 3(c) | |
| S. 47 functions transferred and references construed | S.I. No. 418 of 2011, arts. 1(2), 3 and sch. 1 | 29 July 2011 | S.I. No. 418 of 2011, arts. 1(2) |
| S. 47(4) substituted | 46/2022, ss. 1(5), 101(b) | 26 April 2023 | Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 194 of 2023), art. 3(c) |
| S. 53 repealed | 18/2009, s. 3, schedule 1 | 12 July 2009 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 55(4)(c) references construed | 7/2018, ss. 9, 14(2), 14(4) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
SIs made under the Act
| Section | SIs made under the Act |
|---|---|
| S. 3 | Disability (Assessment of Needs, Service Statements and Redress) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 601 of 2023) |
| S. 21 | Disability (Assessment of Needs, Service Statements and Redress) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 601 of 2023) |
| Disability (Assessment of Needs, Service Statements and Redress) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 704 of 2021) | |
| Disability (Assessment of Needs, Service Statements and Redress) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 263 of 2007) | |
| S. 30(4) | Disability Act 2005 (Code of Practice) (Declaration) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 484 of 2011) |
| Disability Act 2005 (Code of Practice) (Declaration) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 163 of 2006) |