Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012
I gCúrsaí Gearr
Is éard atá sa dlí seo ná leasuithe ar na hAchtanna Leasa Shóisialaigh agus ar na hAchtanna Pinsean 1990 go 2011, chomh maith le forálacha do nithe gaolmhara. Déanann sé athruithe ar fhorálacha éagsúla a bhaineann le leas sóisialach agus pinsin.
Cad a rialaíonn sé
- Leasuithe ar fhorálacha maidir le ranníocóirí deonacha.
- Athruithe ar an íocaíocht teaghlaigh aonair, lena n-áirítear sainmhínithe ar "aois ábhartha" agus "leanbh ábhartha".
- Forálacha maidir le teidlíocht ar íocaíocht teaghlaigh aonair i gcásanna áirithe, go háirithe nuair a shroicheann an leanbh is óige an aois ábhartha.
- Leasuithe ar an Acht Pinsean 1990, ag déileáil le sainmhínithe, treoir, agus forálacha a bhaineann le caighdeán maoinithe agus cúlchiste caighdeáin maoinithe.
Cé dó a mbaineann sé
- Daoine aonair a fhaigheann nó a d'fhéadfadh a bheith i dteideal íocaíochtaí leasa shóisialaigh, go háirithe íocaíocht teaghlaigh aonair.
- Ranníocóirí deonacha leis an gcóras leasa shóisialaigh.
- Daoine a bhfuil baint acu le scéimeanna pinsean, mar go ndéantar leasuithe ar an Acht Pinsean 1990.
Príomhphointí
- Méadaítear an líon seachtainí ranníocaíochta do ranníocóirí deonacha ó 260 go 520 seachtain ranníocaíochta, le forálacha idirthréimhseacha.
- Athraíonn an "aois ábhartha" do leanbh chun íocaíocht teaghlaigh aonair a fháil: 12 bliana (3 Bealtaine 2012 - 2 Eanáir 2013), 10 mbliana (3 Eanáir 2013 - 1 Eanáir 2014), agus 7 mbliana (ó 2 Eanáir 2014 ar aghaidh).
- Féadfaidh íocaíocht teaghlaigh aonair leanúint ar feadh tréimhse 2 bhliain do chéilí marthanacha, comhchónaitheoirí marthanacha, nó páirtnéirí sibhialta marthanacha, fiú má shroicheann an leanbh is óige an aois ábhartha le linn na tréimhse sin.
- Déantar leasuithe ar an Acht Pinsean 1990 maidir le sainmhínithe, treoir ó Chumann Achtúirí in Éirinn, agus forálacha a bhaineann le caighdeán maoinithe agus cúlchiste caighdeáin maoinithe.
Legal text
Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.
- ie)Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.
- ie)Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(
- s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2012 Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012 Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 12 of 2012 SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT 2012 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS PART 1 Preliminary and General Section 1. Short title, collective citations, construction and commencement. PART 2 Amendments to Social Welfare Acts 2. Definitions. 3. Voluntary contributors — amendment. 4. One-parent family payment — amendments. 5. Entitlement to one-parent family payment — amendments. 6. Schedule 5 — amendments. 7. Disqualification from certain payments while participating in Community Employment. 8. Reckonable earnings — amendment. 9. Employer not liable to deduct employment contributions in certain circumstances. 10. Share-based remuneration — amendments to PRSI liability. 11. Return of contributions — share-based remuneration. 12. Entitlement to mortgage interest supplement. 13. Sharing of information — amendment. 14. Investigation and determination of claims for rent supplement under section 198. 15. Provision of information for the purpose of establishing identity. 16. Entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit — amendment. 17. Social welfare inspectors — amendment. 18. Social Insurance Fund. 19. Budgeting in relation to social welfare payments — amendments. PART 3 Amendments to Pensions Act 1990 20. Definition. 21. Amendment of section 2 of Principal Act. 22. Guidance of Society of Actuaries in Ireland, Board or any other person. 23. Amendment of section 33 of Principal Act. 24. Amendment of section 34 of Principal Act. 25. Amendment of section 40 of Principal Act. 26. Amendment of section 41 of Principal Act. 27. Amendment of section 42 of Principal Act. 28. Amendment of section 43 of Principal Act. 29. Provisions relating to funding standard and funding standard reserve. 30. Amendment of section 45 of Principal Act. 31. Amendment of section 46 of Principal Act. 32. Limitations on calculation of resources of relevant schemes. 33. Amendment of section 48 of Principal Act. 34. Amendment of section 49 of Principal Act. 35. Amendment of section 50 of Principal Act. 36. Amendment of section 51A of Principal Act. 37. Amendment of section 53E of Principal Act. 38. Amendment of section 55 of Principal Act. 39. Trustee consent for early retirement. 40. Amendment of Second Schedule to Principal Act. Acts Referred to Central Bank Act 1989 1989, No. 16 Customs Act 1956 1956, No. 7 Electricity Regulation Act 1999 1999, No. 23 Finance Act 1970 1970, No. 14 Finance Act 1972 1972, No. 19 Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002 2002, No. 10 Immigration Act 2004 2004, No. 1 Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act 1968 1968, No. 24 Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act 1992 1992, No. 19 Pensions Act 1990 1990, No. 25 Pensions Acts 1990 to 2011 Social Welfare Act 2011 2011, No. 37 Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 2007, No. 8 Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2009 2009, No. 10 Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010 2010, No. 37 Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 2011, No. 9 Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2009 2009, No. 43 Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 2005, No. 26 Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 2008, No. 22 Student Support Act 2011 2011, No. 4 Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 1997, No. 39 Vocational Education Act 1930 1930, No. 29 Number 12 of 2012 SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT 2012 AN ACT TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE SOCIAL WELFARE ACTS AND THE PENSIONS ACTS 1990 TO 2011 AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. [1st May, 2012] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: PART 1 Preliminary and General Short title, collective citations, construction and commencement. 1.—
- a)by inserting the following definition: “ ‘relevant age’ means— (
- a)16 years where a payment under Chapter 8A of Part 3 is being made in respect of a child, and (
- b)in any other case— (
- i)12 years in respect of any claim for one-parent family payment relating to any day during the period beginning on 3 May 2012 and expiring on 2 January 2013, (
- ii)10 years in respect of any claim for one-parent family payment relating to any day during the period beginning on 3 January 2013 and expiring on 1 January 2014, and (iii) 7 years in respect of any claim for one-parent family payment relating to any day occurring on or after 2 January 2014;”, and (
- b)in the definition of “relevant child” (inserted by section 9 of the Act of 2011), by substituting the following paragraph for paragraph (c): “(
- c)has not attained the relevant age;”.
- a)a surviving spouse where both spouses of a married couple are, on the relevant date, living together and one of them dies, (
- b)a surviving cohabitant where both cohabitants are, on the relevant date, cohabiting and one of them dies, and (
- c)a surviving civil partner where both civil partners of a civil partnership are, on the relevant date, living together and one of them dies, and where the surviving spouse, surviving cohabitant or surviving civil partner is the parent, step-parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian of at least one child who normally resides with that surviving spouse, surviving cohabitant or surviving civil partner and the youngest child has, on the relevant date, attained the relevant age.
- a)that the youngest child has attained the relevant age, and (
- b)section 178C, one-parent family payment shall be payable to a surviving spouse, surviving cohabitant or surviving civil partner to whom this section applies for the shorter of— (
- i)the period commencing on the relevant date and ending on the day that is 2 years after that date, or (
- ii)the period commencing on the relevant date and ending on the date that the youngest child attains the age of 18 years.”.
- a)a surviving spouse where both spouses of a married couple are, on the relevant date, living together and one of them dies, (
- b)a surviving cohabitant where both cohabitants are, on the relevant date, cohabiting and one of them dies, and (
- c)a surviving civil partner where both civil partners are, on the relevant date, living together and one of them dies, and where the surviving spouse, surviving cohabitant or surviving civil partner is the parent, step-parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian of at least one relevant child who normally resides with that surviving spouse, surviving cohabitant or surviving civil partner and the youngest relevant child is, on the relevant date, within 2 years of attaining the relevant age.
- a)immediately before 27 April 2011 was in receipt of one-parent family payment, and (
- b)would have continued to receive that payment— (
- i)immediately after 26 April 2011 but for the fact that the youngest child attained the age of 14 years before 27 April 2011, or (
- ii)on or after 27 April 2011 but for the fact that the youngest child has attained the age of 14 years on or after 27 April 2011.
- a)during the period commencing on 27 April 2011 and ending on 2 January 2013, until the youngest child attains the age of 18 years; (
- b)during the period commencing on 3 January 2013 and ending on 1 January 2014, until the youngest child attains the age of 17 years; (
- c)during the period commencing on 2 January 2014 and ending on 31 December 2014, until the youngest child attains the age of 16 years.
- a)the youngest child has attained the age of 18 years and has not attained the age of 22 years, and (
- b)that youngest child is receiving full-time education as may be prescribed.
- a)becomes entitled to one-parent family payment during the period commencing on 27 April 2011 and ending on 2 May 2012, (
- b)immediately before 3 May 2012 is in receipt of that payment, and (
- c)would have continued to be entitled to receive that payment— (
- i)immediately after 2 May 2012 until the date on which the youngest child attained the age of 14 years, but for the fact that the youngest child attained the age of 12 years before 3 May 2012, or (
- ii)on or after 3 May 2012 until the date on which the youngest child attained the age of 14 years, but for the fact that the youngest child has attained the age of 12 years on or after 3 May 2012.
- a)during the period commencing on 3 May 2012 and ending on 2 January 2013, until the youngest child attains the age of 14 years; (
- b)during the period commencing on 3 January 2013 and ending on 1 January 2014, until the youngest child attains the age of 12 years; (
- c)during the period commencing on 2 January 2014 and ending on 31 December 2014, until the youngest child attains the age of 10 years.
- a)been in receipt of one-parent family payment for a period of 52 consecutive weeks and is disqualified for receipt of that payment by virtue of— (
- i)having gross weekly earnings in excess of the amount specified in section 173
- ii)participation in a scheme administered by the Minister and known as Back to Education Allowance, and (
- b)but for that disqualification the person would be entitled to that one-parent family payment, the person shall again become entitled to that payment at the expiration of the disqualification subject to, and in accordance with— (
- i)section 178B, in the case of a person who first became entitled to one-parent family payment before 27 April 2011, or (
- ii)section 178C, in the case of a person who first became entitled to one-parent family payment during the period commencing on 27 April 2011 and ending on 2 May 2012.
- a)a person made a claim for one-parent family payment before 27 April 2011 and the claim had not been fully determined by that date, and (
- b)that person would have been entitled to that payment but for the fact that the youngest child had attained the age of 14 years before 27 April 2011, the entitlement of that person to that payment shall be determined in accordance with section 178B.
- a)a person made a claim for one-parent family payment before 3 May 2012 and the claim had not been fully determined by that date, and (
- b)that person would have been entitled to that payment but for the fact that the youngest child attained the age of 12 years before 3 May 2012, the entitlement of that person to that payment shall be determined in accordance with section 178C.”.
- c)by substituting the following subparagraph for subparagraph (i): “(
- i)a weekly or monthly payment payable in accordance with section 198,”. Reckonable earnings — amendment. 8.— Section 2
- a)in the case of an employed contributor, not being a special contributor, emoluments derived from insurable employment or insurable (occupational injuries) employment (other than such emoluments that may be prescribed) to which Chapter 4 of Part 42 of the Act of 1997 applies, but without regard to Chapter 1 of Part 44 of that Act, and (
- b)in the case of a special contributor— (
- i)salaries, wages or other remuneration including non-pecuniary remuneration derived from insurable employment or insurable (occupational injuries) employment to which the Act of 1997 (other than Chapter 4 of Part 42) applies or would apply if the employed contributor in receipt of the remuneration were resident in the State, but without regard to Chapter 1 of Part 44 of that Act, and (
- ii)payments to persons attending or engaged in courses or schemes provided or approved by— (I) An Foras Áiseanna Saothair, (II) Teagasc, or (III) the National Tourism Development Authority, and reckonable earnings shall include— (A) share-based remuneration realised, acquired or appropriated, as the case may be, on or after 1 January 2011, and (B) the ‘specified amount’ within the meaning of section 825C of the Act of 1997;”, and (
- b)by substituting the following definition for the definition of “reckonable emoluments” (amended by section 13 of the Act of 2011): “ ‘reckonable emoluments’, in relation to a self-employed contributor, means emoluments (other than reckonable earnings and any other emoluments that may be prescribed) to which Chapter 4 of Part 42 of the Act of 1997 applies and reckonable emoluments shall include— (
- a)share-based remuneration realised, acquired or appropriated, as the case may be, on or after 1 January 2011, and (
- b)the ‘specified amount’ within the meaning of section 825C of the Act of 1997;”. Employer not liable to deduct employment contributions in certain circumstances. 9.— Section 13 of the Principal Act is amended by substituting the following subsection for subsection (4A) (inserted by section 13 of the Social Welfare Act 2011 ): “(4A) Where a person realises a gain by— (
- a)the exercise of a right in accordance with section 128 of the Act of 1997, or (
- b)the exercise of a right in accordance with section 519A of the Act of 1997 and, at the time of realising that gain, that person has ceased to be an employee of the employer who granted that right, subsection
- i)the employer who granted that right, or (
- ii)if that person is employed by another employer at the time the gain is realised, that other employer.”. Share-based remuneration — amendments to PRSI liability. 10.— Section 2
- b)in paragraph (e), by substituting “section 519A of that Act, and” for “section 519A of that Act,”, and (
- c)by inserting the following paragraph after paragraph (e): “(
- f)in the case of emoluments (within the meaning of section 983 of the Act of 1997) received by an employee or director in the form of shares (including stock) in— (
- i)the company in which the employee or director holds his or her office or employment, or (
- ii)a company which has control (within the meaning of section 432 of the Act of 1997) of that company, the amount referred to in section 985A
- a)(inserted by section 13 of the Social Welfare Act 2011 ) of the Principal Act is amended— (
- a)in subparagraph (i)— (
- i)by substituting “pursuant to paragraph (a)(
- ii)or (b)(
- ii)of the definition of ‘reckonable earnings’ specified in” for “by virtue of clauses (I) to (VI) of paragraphs (
- a)and (
- b)of the definition of ‘reckonable earnings’ contained in”, (
- ii)by inserting “(amended by the Social Welfare (Consolidated Contributions and Insurability) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 ( S.I. No. 684 of 2010 ))” after “Article 3”, and (iii) by deleting “(inserted by Article 4 of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Contributions and Insurability) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 ( S.I. No. 684 of 2010 ))”, and (
- b)in subparagraph (
- ii)by substituting “that section applies,” for “that section applies, and”.
- i)pursuant to paragraph (a)(
- ii)or (b)(
- ii)of the definition of ‘reckonable earnings’ specified in Article 3 (amended by the Social Welfare (Consolidated Contributions and Insurability) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 ( S.I. No. 684 of 2010 )) of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Contributions and Insurability) Regulations 1996 ( S.I. No. 312 of 1996 ), or (
- ii)in respect of the amount referred to in section 985A
- a)by substituting “to an employed contributor, the employer of an employed contributor and a self-employed contributor,” for “to an employed contributor and to the employer of an employed contributor,” and (
- b)in paragraph (
- b)by substituting “on the death of an employed contributor and a self-employed contributor” for “on the death of an employed contributor”. Entitlement to mortgage interest supplement. 12.— Section 198 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting the following subsections after subsection (5A) (inserted by section 14 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 ): “(5AA) A person shall not be entitled to the supplement referred to in subsection
- a)has, arising from such engagement, entered into and, where required, is complying with an alternative repayment arrangement agreed between that person and his or her mortgage lender in respect of his or her mortgage repayment obligations for a period of not less than 12 months, or (
- b)has— (
- i)arising from such engagement, entered into and, where required, is complying with an alternative repayment arrangement agreed between that person and his or her mortgage lender in respect of his or her mortgage repayment obligations for a period of less than 12 months in respect of that alternative repayment arrangement, and (
- ii)prior to entering into the alternative repayment arrangement referred to in subparagraph (
- i)the person had entered into and had complied with a different alternative repayment arrangement agreed between that person and his or her mortgage lender in respect of his or her mortgage repayment obligations, and the total number of months in respect of which that person has complied with the alternative repayment arrangements referred to in subparagraphs (
- i)and (
- ii)is a period of not less than 12 months. (5AB) Subsection (5AA) shall apply to a person who makes an application for the supplement referred to in subsection
- a)in respect of his or her mortgage that incorporates a change in any terms or conditions of the mortgage that applied when the mortgage took effect, and (
- b)for the purpose of assisting that person to resolve any difficulties he or she may have in meeting his or her mortgage repayment obligations, and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, includes any practice, referred to in a code of practice drawn up under section 117 of the Central Bank Act 1989 , that is specified for the purpose of resolving any difficulties with meeting mortgage repayment obligations.”. Sharing of information — amendment. 13.— Section 265
- a)by substituting the following subparagraph for subparagraph (v): “(
- v)a grant— (I) that— (A) was awarded in accordance with section 2 (amended by section 3 of the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act 1992 ) of the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act 1968 , and (B) was continued under subsections
- a)a statement in writing— (
- i)confirming that the person in respect of whom that supplement has been, or is to be, paid is a person from whom the landlord is, under a tenancy, entitled to receive rent in respect of the residence of that person, (
- ii)as to whether the landlord is receiving rent solely from the person referred to in subparagraph (
- i)or from any other person under that tenancy in respect of that residence, (iii) specifying the period of the tenancy of the person referred to in subparagraph (i), and (
- iv)confirming that the person referred to in subparagraph (
- i)has resided, and, where appropriate, continues to reside, at that residence for the period for which that supplement has been, or is to be, paid, and (
- b)such other information, in writing, relating to the tenancy of the person referred to in paragraph (a)(
- i)as the designated person may require for the purposes of determining entitlement to that supplement.
- a)by delivering it to the person, (
- b)by leaving it at the address at which the person ordinarily resides or, in the case where an address for service has been furnished, at that address, or (
- c)by sending it by post in a prepaid registered letter to the address at which the person ordinarily resides or, in a case where an address for service has been furnished, at that address.
- a)a statement in writing— (
- i)confirming that the person in respect of whom that supplement has been, or is to be, paid is a person from whom the landlord is, under a tenancy, entitled to receive rent in respect of the residence of that person, (
- ii)as to whether the landlord is receiving rent solely from the person referred to in subparagraph (
- i)or from any other person under that tenancy in respect of that residence, (iii) specifying the period of the tenancy of the person referred to in subparagraph (i), and (
- iv)confirming that the person referred to in subparagraph (
- i)has resided, and where appropriate, continues to reside, at that residence for the period for which that supplement has been, or is to be, paid, and (
- b)such other information, in writing, relating to the tenancy of the person referred to in paragraph (a)(
- i)as the social welfare inspector may reasonably require for the purposes of the investigation concerned. (2B) Where a request is to be made to a landlord by a social welfare inspector under subsection (2A), it shall be sent to the landlord in writing and addressed to the person concerned by name and may be sent or given— (
- a)by delivering it to the person, (
- b)by leaving it at the address at which the person ordinarily resides or, in the case where an address for service has been furnished, at that address, or (
- c)by sending it by post in a prepaid registered letter to the address at which the person ordinarily resides or, in a case where an address for service has been furnished, at that address. (2C) In subsections (2A) and (2B)— ‘landlord’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 198C
- a)makes a claim for that benefit in the prescribed manner, and (
- b)satisfies the Minister as to his or her identity.”, and (
- b)by inserting the following subsections after subsection (1B) (amended by section 12 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 ): “(1C) For the purposes of satisfying himself or herself as to the identity of a person who makes a claim for benefit, the Minister may, without prejudice to any other method of authenticating the identity of that person, request that person— (
- a)to attend at an office of the Minister or such other place as the Minister may designate as appropriate, (
- b)to provide to the Minister, at that office or other designated place, such information and to produce any document to the Minister as the Minister may reasonably require for the purposes of authenticating the identity of that person, (
- c)to allow a photograph or other record of an image of that person to be taken, at that office or other designated place, in electronic form, for the purposes of the authentication, by the Minister, at any time, of the identity of that person, and (
- d)to provide, at that office or other designated place, a sample of his or her signature in electronic form for the purposes of the authentication, by the Minister, at any time, of the identity of that person. (1D) The Minister shall retain in electronic form— (
- a)any photograph or other record of an image of a person taken pursuant to subsection (1C)(c), and (
- b)any signature provided pursuant to subsection (1C)(d), in such manner that allows such photograph, other record or signature to be reproduced by electronic means.”.
- a)to attend at an office of the Minister or such other place as the Minister may designate as appropriate, (
- b)to provide to the Minister, at that office or other designated place, such information and to produce any document to the Minister as the Minister may reasonably require for the purposes of authenticating the identity of that person, (
- c)to allow a photograph or other record of an image of that person to be taken, at that office or other designated place, in electronic form, for the purposes of the authentication, by the Minister, at any time, of the identity of that person, and (
- d)to provide, at that office or other designated place, a sample of his or her signature in electronic form for the purposes of the authentication, by the Minister, at any time, of the identity of that person.
- a)16.67 per cent of the appropriate weekly rate where a person is entitled to jobseeker’s benefit for 6 days of unemployment in any payment week, (
- b)16 per cent of the appropriate weekly rate where a person is entitled to jobseeker’s benefit for 5 days of unemployment only in any payment week, (
- c)15 per cent of the appropriate weekly rate where a person is entitled to jobseeker’s benefit for 4 days of unemployment only in any payment week, (
- d)13.33 per cent of the appropriate weekly rate where a person is entitled to jobseeker’s benefit for 3 days of unemployment only in any payment week, and (
- e)10 per cent of the appropriate weekly rate where a person is entitled to jobseeker’s benefit for 2 days of unemployment only in any payment week.”, and (
- b)by inserting the following subsections after subsection
- a)has reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a contravention of this Act, and (
- b)is accompanied by— (
- i)a member of the Garda Síochána, (
- ii)an officer of Customs and Excise, or (iii) an immigration officer, the social welfare inspector concerned may, on production of his or her certificate of appointment— (
- i)question and make enquiries of a person who is a passenger at the port and is preparing to embark, or is embarking, from, or has landed in, the State in relation to any matter that concerns compliance with this Act, and (
- ii)request such person to produce to that inspector any documents or other information as that inspector may reasonably require for the purposes of establishing the identity, and, where appropriate, the habitual residence, of that person.”, and (
- b)by substituting the following subsection for subsection
- c)The Minister may, for the purpose of maintaining a sufficient amount of moneys in the current account of the Fund, having regard to the sums payable from the current account, request the Minister for Finance to advance moneys to the special account of the Fund from the Central Fund. (
- d)A request under paragraph (
- c)shall be approved by the Minister for Finance, following consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform before any moneys are advanced to the special account of the Fund pursuant to a request under that paragraph. (
- e)For the purposes of moneys advanced to the Fund pursuant to a request under paragraph (
- c)an account (in this section referred to as the ‘special account of the Fund’) shall be established which shall be— (
- i)in the name of the Minister, and (
- ii)an account with the Paymaster General. (
- f)The Minister shall, subject to such conditions as the Minister for Finance considers appropriate, manage and control the special account of the Fund for the purpose of maintaining an amount of moneys in the current account of the Fund that is sufficient to meet the sums payable from that current account. (
- g)Subject to subsection
- ba)(inserted by section 33 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 ): “(
- bb)a person granted a licence to supply electricity in accordance with section 14
- a)professional guidance issued by the Society of Actuaries in Ireland; (
- b)guidance issued by the Board; or (
- c)guidance issued by any other person; for any purpose of this Act is for the time being specified by regulations made under this Act, any such guidance so specified shall not be altered by the Society, the Board or other person respectively without the prior consent of the Minister.”. Amendment of section 33 of Principal Act. 23.— Section 33 of the Principal Act is amended— (
- a)in subsection
- a)in respect of a revaluation year ending on or before 31 December 2012— (
- i)the percentage that equals the increase in the general level of consumer prices during that year calculated by the Minister in such manner as he or she thinks appropriate, or (
- ii)4 per cent, whichever is the lesser, and (
- b)in respect of a revaluation year ending on or after 1 January 2013— (
- i)the percentage that equals the increase or decrease in the general level of consumer prices during that year calculated by the Minister in such manner as he or she thinks appropriate, or (
- ii)4 per cent, whichever is the lesser.”, (
- c)by substituting the following subsection for subsection
- a)vary the percentage specified in subparagraph (
- ii)of subsection
- a)or subparagraph (
- ii)of subsection
- b)in a previous revaluation year in respect of a member whose benefit had previously been adjusted by that negative percentage.”, and (
- d)in subsection
- a)by inserting the following definition: “ ‘additional resources’ means, on any date, resources in addition to the resources used to determine whether the scheme satisfies the funding standard on the same date;”, and (
- b)by deleting the definitions of “the effective date”, “funding standard” and “relevant scheme”. Amendment of section 41 of Principal Act. 26.— Section 41
- b)inserting the following paragraph after paragraph (a): “(
- aa)the provisions of this Part which relate to the funding standard reserve shall not apply to— (
- i)a defined contribution scheme which is a regulatory own funds scheme, or (
- ii)a small scheme of the type referred to in paragraph (
- b)of subsection
- i)“in this Act referred to as ‘the effective date of the actuarial funding certificate’ ” for “in this Part referred to as ‘the effective date’ ”, and (
- ii)“44
- a)the scheme satisfies the funding standard reserve, or (
- b)the scheme does not satisfy the funding standard reserve.”, (
- e)in subsection
- a)by inserting “and a funding standard reserve certificate” after “an actuarial funding certificate”, (
- f)in subsection
- i)by inserting “and a funding standard reserve certificate” after “an actuarial funding certificate”, and (
- ii)by substituting “(including the Board or the Minister)” for “(including the Minister)”, and (
- g)in subsection
- a)inserting the following subsection after subsection (1D): “(1E) In the case of a relevant scheme, a funding standard reserve certificate shall have the same effective date as the actuarial funding certificate for the scheme where the effective date of that actuarial funding certificate falls on or after 1 June 2012.”, (
- b)substituting the following subsection for subsection
- a)the liabilities of the scheme consisting of— (
- i)additional benefits secured or granted by way of additional voluntary contributions or a transfer of rights from another scheme to which paragraph 2 of the Third Schedule relates to the extent that the rights to which the transfer relates were originally secured or granted by way of additional voluntary contributions, (
- ii)benefits in the course of payment to which paragraph 1 of the Third Schedule relates, (iii) benefits, other than those referred to in subparagraphs (
- i)and (ii), which consist of a transfer of rights from another scheme to which paragraph 2 of the Third Schedule relates, (
- iv)benefits, other than those referred to in subparagraphs (i), (
- ii)and (iii), to which paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Third Schedule relate, and (
- v)the percentage (in this Part referred to as the ‘specified percentage’) of any benefits, other than those referred to in subparagraphs (i), (
- ii)and (iii), to which paragraph 5 of the Third Schedule relates, and (
- b)the estimated expenses of administering the winding up of the scheme.
- a)an amount equal to A x (B — C) where— A is 15 per cent (or such higher percentage, being not more than 50 per cent, or lower percentage, being not less than zero per cent as may be prescribed by the Minister), B is the amount of the funding standard liabilities of the scheme at the effective date of the funding standard reserve certificate, and C is the amount, subject to a maximum of an amount equal to the funding standard liabilities, of the resources of the scheme invested in the following assets— (
- i)securities issued under section 54
- ii)securities issued under the laws of a Member State (other than the State) that correspond to securities referred to in subparagraph (i), (iii) cash deposits with one or more credit institutions, (
- iv)such other assets of a type that offers a similar degree of security to those assets referred to in subparagraphs (i), (
- ii)or (iii) as may be prescribed by the Minister, and (
- b)the amount by which the funding standard liabilities of the scheme would increase on the effective date of the funding standard reserve certificate if the interest rate or interest rates assumed for the purposes of determining the funding standard liabilities was one half of one per cent (or such higher percentage, being not more than 5 per cent, or lower percentage, being not less than zero per cent, as may be prescribed by the Minister) less than the interest rate or interest rates (as appropriate) assumed for the purposes of determining the funding standard liabilities for the actuarial funding certificate which has the same effective date as the funding standard reserve certificate less the amount by which the resources of the scheme would increase at the same date as a result of the same change in interest rate or interest rates. (
- c)For the purposes of paragraphs (
- a)and (b), resources shall not include resources which relate to contributions or a transfer of rights from another scheme to the extent that the benefits provided are directly determined by the accumulated value of those contributions or the amount transferred and a given investment performance is not guaranteed or specified in relation to those contributions or the amount transferred.”. Amendment of section 45 of Principal Act. 30.— Section 45
- b)by substituting— (
- i)“44
- b)applies for the benefits specified in that subsection”, (
- b)in subsection
- ii)by substituting “in a form which has been certified by the Board” for “certified by the Board”, (
- c)in subsection (3A) by substituting— (
- i)“subsection
- b)and paragraphs (a), (b), (
- c)and (
- d)of subsection (1A)” for “subsection
- ii)“actuarial funding certificates or funding standard reserve certificates” for “actuarial funding certificates”, and (
- d)in subsection (3B) by substituting— (
- i)“subparagraphs (i), (
- ii)and (iii) of subsection
- b)and paragraphs (a), (b), (
- c)and (
- d)of subsection (1A)” for “subparagraphs (i), (
- ii)and (iii) of subsection
- ii)“subparagraph (
- ii)of subsection
- b)and paragraph (
- b)of subsection (1A)” for “subparagraph (
- ii)of subsection
- a)submit an actuarial funding certificate which certifies that at the effective date of the certificate the scheme does not satisfy the funding standard, or (
- b)on or after 1 January 2016, submit a funding standard reserve certificate which certifies that at the effective date of the certificate the scheme does not satisfy the funding standard reserve, they shall, subject to regulations under subsection (2A), submit to the Board a proposal (in this Part referred to as a ‘funding proposal’) in accordance with the provisions of this section.”, (
- b)substituting the following subsection for subsection
- a)contain a proposal designed to ensure that, in the opinion of the actuary— (
- i)the scheme could reasonably be expected to satisfy the funding standard at the effective date of the next actuarial funding certificate or any later date specified under subsection
- b)comply with regulations made under subsection (2A), (
- c)be certified by the actuary as meeting the requirements of paragraph (a), (
- d)be signed by or on behalf of the employer and by or on behalf of the trustees of the scheme, in each case signifying agreement to the proposal, and (
- e)be submitted by the trustees of the scheme with the actuarial funding certificate or funding standard reserve certificate to which it relates.”, (
- c)substituting the following subsection for subsection (2A): “(2A) Regulations under this section may— (
- a)require the actuary, in certifying a funding proposal under subsection
- b)require the trustees to comply with any applicable guidance issued by any person (including the Board or the Minister), and specified in the regulations, setting out— (
- i)the requirements with which a funding proposal shall comply, and (
- ii)the terms on and the circumstances in which the trustees are required to notify the Board of a failure by any person to comply with a term of a funding proposal, (
- c)prescribe the terms on and circumstances in which— (
- i)a date later than the effective date of the next actuarial funding certificate or next funding standard reserve certificate may be specified by the Board in accordance with subsection (3B), (
- ii)the trustees are not required to submit a funding proposal under subsection
- i)“Before 1 June 2012, subject to regulations under this section” for “Subject to Regulations under this section”, and (
- ii)“
- e)in subsection (3A) by substituting “(b), (c), (
- d)or (e)” for “(b), (
- c)or (d)”, (
- f)inserting the following new subsection after subsection (3A): “(3B) On or after 1 June 2012, the Board on application to it in that behalf by the trustees of a scheme (other than a regulatory own funds scheme) may, in relation to the scheme, on the terms and in the circumstances prescribed or set out in guidance prescribed by regulations made under subsection (2A)— (
- a)for the purposes of subsection
- i)specify a date later than the effective date of the next actuarial funding certificate, and (
- b)for the purposes of subsection
- ii)specify a date later than the effective date of the next actuarial funding certificate or funding standard reserve certificate.”, and (
- g)in subsection
- a)the trustees of the scheme fail to submit an actuarial funding certificate within the period specified in section 43, (
- b)the actuarial funding certificate certifies that the scheme does not satisfy the funding standard and the trustees of the scheme have not submitted a funding proposal in accordance with section 49, (
- c)the actuarial funding certificate certifies that the scheme does not satisfy the funding standard and the trustees of the scheme have submitted a funding proposal in accordance with section 49, (
- d)the Board consents to the amendment of a scheme in accordance with section 50A (inserted by section 18 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2009 ), (
- e)the trustees of the scheme fail to submit a funding standard reserve certificate within the period specified in section 43, (
- f)the funding standard reserve certificate certifies that the scheme does not satisfy the funding standard reserve and the trustees of the scheme have not submitted a funding proposal in accordance with section 49, or (
- g)the funding standard reserve certificate certifies that the scheme does not satisfy the funding standard reserve and the trustees of the scheme have submitted a funding proposal in accordance with section 49.”, (
- b)substituting the following subsection for subsection (1A): “(1A) The Board may, by notice in writing, following an application by the trustees or otherwise, direct the trustees of a scheme (other than a regulatory own funds scheme) to take such measures as may be specified by the Board in the notice or, if no measures are specified in the notice, such measures as may be necessary to reduce future increases in benefits payable from the scheme to or in respect of persons receiving benefits under the scheme or persons who have reached normal pensionable age, where— (
- a)the trustees of the scheme fail to submit an actuarial funding certificate within the period specified in section 43, (
- b)the actuarial funding certificate certifies that the scheme does not satisfy the funding standard and the trustees of the scheme have not submitted a funding proposal in accordance with section 49, (
- c)the actuarial funding certificate certifies that the scheme does not satisfy the funding standard and the trustees of the scheme have submitted a funding proposal in accordance with section 49, (
- d)the Board consents to the amendment of a scheme in accordance with section 50A (inserted by section 18 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2009 ), (
- e)the trustees of the scheme fail to submit a funding standard reserve certificate within the period specified in section 43, (
- f)the funding standard reserve certificate certifies that the scheme does not satisfy the funding standard reserve and the trustees of the scheme have not submitted a funding proposal in accordance with section 49, or (
- g)the funding standard reserve certificate certifies that the scheme does not satisfy the funding standard reserve and the trustees of the scheme have submitted a funding proposal in accordance with section 49.”, (
- c)substituting the following subsection for subsection
- b)the benefits which may be reduced following such a direction shall include— (
- i)a preserved benefit where an entitlement to the preserved benefit has arisen, and (
- ii)any revaluation of a preserved benefit under section 33 where such revaluation relates to a revaluation year which ends, prior to the date with effect from which measures are put in place pursuant to the direction.”, (
- d)substituting the following subsection for subsection (2A): “(2A) A reduction in benefits effected pursuant to a direction under subsection
- a)be such as, in the opinion of the actuary concerned, ensures that, immediately following the reduction, the scheme will satisfy the funding standard and, on or after 1 January 2016, the funding standard reserve, or (
- b)in the case of a scheme referred to in paragraph (
- c)or (
- g)of subsection
- c)or (
- g)of subsection (1A), be such as, in the opinion of the actuary concerned, ensures that the scheme could reasonably be expected to— (
- i)satisfy the funding standard at the effective date of the next actuarial funding certificate or any later date specified under subsection
- a)(
- i)within one month of the date of the notice, put in place such measures as may be specified in the notice or, if no measures are specified, such measures as may be necessary to reduce the benefits under the scheme, in respect of all or any of the— (I) members of the scheme then in relevant employment who had not reached normal pensionable age, (II) members whose service in relevant employment has ceased and who have not reached normal pensionable age and who have an entitlement to a preserved benefit or any other benefit under the scheme, and (III) persons receiving benefits under the scheme or who have reached normal pensionable age, that would be payable to or in respect of them from the scheme, but, in respect of persons specified in clause (III), only those benefits referred to in subsection (1A), and (
- ii)within a period of 2 months of the date of the notice, or such longer period as the Board considers appropriate, notify the members of the scheme and other persons who are receiving benefits under the scheme or who have reached normal pensionable age, of the reduction in benefits, (
- b)within a period of 3 months of the date of the notice, submit to the Board— (
- i)confirmation that the trustees have complied with paragraph (a), (
- ii)copies of the notifications issued to members of the scheme and other persons under subparagraph (
- ii)of paragraph (a), and (iii) (I) an actuarial funding certificate and, on or after 1 January 2016, a funding standard reserve certificate certifying that at the effective date, being the effective date of the reduction in benefits, the scheme satisfies the funding standard and, on or after 1 January 2016, the funding standard reserve, or (II) in the case of a scheme where a funding proposal has been submitted to the Board pursuant to section 49 and paragraph (
- c)or (
- g)of subsection
- c)or (
- g)of subsection (1A) applies, a statement by an actuary in such form as may be prescribed that he or she is reasonably satisfied that at the effective date of the reduction in benefits— (A) the scheme will satisfy the funding standard at the effective date of the next actuarial funding certificate or, where applicable, any later date specified under subsection
- a)the form by which the trustees of a relevant scheme may apply to the Board for a direction under this section, and (
- b)the requirements to be met by the trustees in relation to any such application, including a requirement that the trustees give notice to the members of the scheme or other persons receiving benefits under the scheme of any proposal to apply for a direction under this section and to give those members and other persons an opportunity to make representations to the trustees in relation to the proposal before the application for a direction is made.”. Amendment of section 51A of Principal Act. 36.— Section 51A of the Principal Act is amended in subsection
- b)by inserting “or funding standard reserve certificates” after “funding certificates”. Amendment of section 53E of Principal Act. 37.— Section 53E of the Principal Act is amended by deleting the definition of “funding standard liabilities”. Amendment of section 55 of Principal Act. 38.— Section 55 of the Principal Act is amended by— (
- a)substituting the following subsection for subsection
- b)in the case of the funding standard reserve certificate, the scheme will satisfy the funding standard reserve at the effective date of the next funding standard reserve certificate or, where applicable, any later date specified under section 49(3B).”, (
- c)substituting the following subsection for subsection
- a)and (
- b)but the actuary does not state therein that he or she is reasonably satisfied that, if he or she were to prepare under section 42 an actuarial funding certificate and a funding standard reserve certificate having an effective date of the last day of the period to which the annual report relates, he or she would certify, in the case of an actuarial funding certificate, that the scheme satisfies the funding standard provided for in section 44
- a)and (
- b)but the actuary does not state therein that he or she is reasonably satisfied at the last day of the period to which the annual report relates that, in the case of an actuarial funding certificate, the scheme will satisfy the funding standard at the effective date of the next actuarial funding certificate or, where applicable, any later date specified under subsection
- i)substituting “statements” for “statement”, and (
- ii)inserting “(including the Minister or the Board)” after “any other person”. Trustee consent for early retirement. 39.— The Principal Act is amended by substituting the following section for section 59G: “59G.— In the case of a defined benefit scheme the rules of which include an early retirement rule, notwithstanding the terms of that rule— (
- a)if the actuary advises the trustees that he or she is reasonably satisfied that if the actuary were to prepare an actuarial funding certificate under section 42 having an effective date of the day on which any member’s immediate retirement benefit by virtue of that early retirement rule is expected to commence, the actuary would not certify that the scheme satisfies the funding standard provided for in section 44
- a)the last day of the previous calendar year, (
- b)the date of termination of relevant employment in any case where a member’s relevant employment has terminated since the last day of the previous calendar year, or (
- c)in any case where the amount of preserved benefit has been reduced pursuant to a direction under subsection
- a)the last day of the previous calendar year, (
- b)the date of termination of relevant employment in any case where a member’s relevant employment has terminated since the last day of the previous calendar year, or (
- c)in any case where the amount of preserved benefit has been reduced pursuant to a direction under subsection