Updated to 9 September 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025 and S.I. No. 426 of 2025)
All effects below are reflected in the most recent Revised Act.
Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006
No. 5 of 2006
Contents
Commencement
| Section | Commencement/Effective Date Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Information |
|---|---|---|
| Ss. 1, 2 | 24 March 2006 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 3 | 1 April 2006 | S. 3(2) |
| S. 4(1)in so far as it relates to orphan's (contributory) allowance and orphan's (non-contributory) pension | 28 July 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2. |
| S. 4(1) in so far as it relates to retirement pension | 28 September 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2. |
| S. 4(1) in so far as it relates to old age (contributory) pension | 28 September 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2. |
| S. 4(1) in so far as it relates to unemployment assistance | 4 October 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2. |
| S. 4(1) in so far as it relates to unemployment benefit | 5 October 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2. |
| S. 4(1) in so far as it relates to disability benefit and unemployability supplement | 2 October 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2. |
| S. 4(2) | 2 October 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2. |
| S.4(3) | 29 September 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2. |
| S. 4(4), (5) | 28 July 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2. |
| S. 4(6) | 28 September 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2. |
| S.4(7) | 5 October 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2. |
| S.4(8) | 4 October 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2. |
| S. 4(9) | ||
| Ss. 5, 6 | 1 January 2006 | the Social Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 5 and 6) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 205 of 2006) |
| S. 7 | 24 March 2006 | Commenced on enactment . See 7(2) for application information |
| S. 8 | 24 March 2006 | Commenced on enactment |
| Ss. 9-14 | 28 September 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2 |
| S. 15 | 24 March 2006 | Commenced on enactment |
| Ss. 16- 25 | 29 September 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006(S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2 |
| S. 26 | 24 April 2006 | Social Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 26 and 27) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 206 of 2006), art. 2 |
| S. 27 in so far as it relates to one-parent family payment (other than where payable in respect of a widow or widower) | 29 May 2006 | Social Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 26 and 27) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 206 of 2006) |
| S. 27 in so far as it relates to one-parent family payment payable in respect of a widow or widower | 30 May 2006 | Social Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 26 and 27) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 206 of 2006) |
| S. 28 | 1 April 2006 | S. 28(2) |
| S. 29 | 1 April 2006 | S. 29(4) |
| S. 30 | 24 March 2006 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 31 | 8 May 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4(4), 4(5), 31 and 33) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 246 of 2006), art. 2 |
| S. 32 | 24 March 2006 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 33 | 8 May 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4(4), 4(5), 31 and 33) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 246 of 2006), art. 2 |
| Ss. 34-37 | 24 March 2006 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 38 | 24 May 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Part 3) (Commencement) Order, 2006 (S.I. No. 291 of 2006), art. 2 |
| S. 39 in so far as it inserts s. 3A into the Pensions Act 1990 (No. 25 of 1990) | 17 September 2007 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Section 39) (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 631 of 2007) art. 2 |
| S. 39 in so far as it inserts s. 3B into the Pensions Act 1990 (No. 25 of 1990) | 12 April 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Section 39 (in so far as it inserts section 3B into the Pensions Act 1990) (Commencement) Order, 2006 (No. 169 of 2006), art. 2 |
| S. 40 | 24 July 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Section 40) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 437 of 2006), art. 2 |
| S. 41 | 24 May 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Part 3) (Commencement) Order, 2006 (S.I. No. 291 of 2006), art. 2 |
| S. 42 | 2 April 2007 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Section 42) (Commencement) Order, 2007 (S.I. No. 136 of 2007), art. 2 |
| S. 43 | 24 May 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Part 3) (Commencement) Order, 2006 (S.I. No. 291 of 2006), art. 2 |
| S. 44 in so far as it relates to items 1-10 of Sch. 8 | 24 May 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Part 3) (Commencement) Order, 2006 (S.I. No. 291 of 2006), art. 2 |
| Ss. 45, 46 | 24 March 2006 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 47 | 1 April 2006 | S. 47(2) |
| S. 48 | 24 March 2006 | Commenced on enactment |
| Sch. 1, Items 1, 2 | 29 September 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2 |
| Sch. 1, item 3 | 28 September 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2 |
| Sch. 1, items 4,5 | 4 October 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2 |
| Sch. 1, item 6 | 5 October 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2 |
| Sch. 1, item 7 | 2 October 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2 |
| Sch. 1, items 8-14 | 28 July 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2 |
| Sch.1,item 15 | 2 October 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25) (Commencement) Order 2006 (S. I. No. 334 of 2006), art. 2 |
| Sch. 8, item 6 | 30 June 2006 | Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (Item 6 of Schedule 8) (Commencement) Order, 2006 (S.I. No. 357 of 2006), art. 2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| S. 29 references to “family income supplement” construed as a reference to “working family payment” | 38/2017, s. 8(2) | 1 January 2018 | Commenced as per s. 8(3) |
| S. 29 reference to "Respite Care Grant" construed | 47/2015, ss. 5(2), 5(3) | 1 January 2016 | S. 5(2) |
| S. 30 reference to "Respite Care Grant" construed | 47/2015, ss. 5(2), 5(3) | 1 January 2016 | S. 5(2) |
| S. 31 references to “family income supplement” construed as a reference to “working family payment” | 38/2017, s. 8(2) | 1 January 2018 | Commenced as per s. 8(3) |
| S. 39 construction of references “Pensions Board” | Pensions Act 1990 (No. 25 of 1990), s. 9A (see | 21 December 1990 | Pensions Act 1990 (Parts I and II) (Commencement) Order 1990 (S.I. No. 331 of 1990), art. 2 |
| Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 (No. 20 of 2013), ss. 1(5), 26) | 7 March 2014 | Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 (Sections 22(b), 26, 27, 28, 29 and 34) (Commencement) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 103 of 2014), art. 2 | |
| S. 43 deleted | Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017 (22/2017), s. 1(2), s. 5(1), sch. 1, pt. 1 | 1 January 2018 | Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017 (Commencement) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 524 of 2017), art. 2 |
| S. 43 references to the Pensions Ombudsman shall, on and after the establishment day, be construed as Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman | 22/2017, s. 29(3) | 1 January 2018 | Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017 (Commencement) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 524 of 2017), art. 2 |
SIs made under the Act
| Section | SIs made under the Act |
|---|---|
| None |