Unemployment Insurance Act, 1924

What is this act about?

This law amends previous Unemployment Insurance Acts from 1920 to 1923, primarily by redefining "Benefit Years" and adjusting rules for unemployment benefits and contributions. It also addresses financial arrangements and reciprocal agreements with other governments regarding unemployment insurance.

Who it applies to: Individuals receiving unemployment benefits; The Minister for Defence and the Minister for Finance.

Deadlines:

Benefit periods are capped: 10 weeks in the Third Benefit Year, 16 weeks in the Fourth Benefit Year, 15 weeks in the Fifth Benefit Year, and 26 weeks in any subsequent Benefit Year.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Labour law
Articles: 12
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The start and end dates of various "Benefit Years" for unemployment insurance.
The calculation of unemployment benefit amounts, specifically regarding past benefits received.
Contributions made for individuals who served in the military.
The maximum periods for which unemployment benefit can be received in different Benefit Years.

Who does this act apply to?

Individuals receiving unemployment benefits.
The Minister for Defence and the Minister for Finance.
Persons enlisted in the military forces of Saorstát Eireann whose service ended on or before June 29, 1924, and who had specific unemployment insurance contributions.

What are the key points?

The "Second Benefit Year" ended on June 29, 1924.
A "Third Benefit Year" ran from June 30, 1924, to October 29, 1924.
A "Fourth Benefit Year" ran from October 30, 1924, to March 25, 1925.
Benefit periods are capped: 10 weeks in the Third Benefit Year, 16 weeks in the Fourth Benefit Year, 15 weeks in the Fifth Benefit Year, and 26 weeks in any subsequent Benefit Year.

Labour law

Unemployment Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1940

Presidential Elections (Amendment) Act, 1946

Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act, 1976

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2023

Trade Loans (Guarantee) Act, 1924

Pensions (Abatement) Act, 1965

National Bank Transfer Act, 1966

Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2012

Labour law

Legal text

Contents (12)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
Section 9
Section 10
Section 11
Section 12

Unemployment Insurance Act, 1924 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 1924 Unemployment Insurance Act, 1924 Unemployment Insurance Act, 1924 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 Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 26 of 1924.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT, 1924.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Commencement and termination of Benefit Years.

Section 2

Amendment of Schedule to Principal Act.

Section 3

Calculation of amount of Benefit.

Section 4

Contributions in respect of military service.

Section 5

Periods of Benefit.

Section 6

Certain enactments not to operate during Third and Fourth Benefit Years.

Section 7

Advances by the Minister for Finance.

Section 8

Cessation of powers in respect of special schemes.

Section 9

Modification of section 17 of Principal Act.

Section 10

Reciprocal arrangements with other Governments.

Section 11

Definitions.

Section 12

Short title.

Number 26 of 1924.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT, 1924.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACTS, 1920 TO 1923, AND FOR PURPOSES CONNECTED THEREWITH. [18th July, 1924.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS OF SAORSTÁT EIREANN AS FOLLOWS:— Commencement and termination of Benefit Years.

1.—(1) (a) So much of section 4 of the Act of 1923 as provides that the “Second Benefit Year” established by that section shall terminate on the 15th day of October, 1924, is hereby repealed. (b) The said Second Benefit Year shall terminate on the 29th day of June, 1924.

(2)Notwithstanding anything contained in section 4 of the Act of 1923— (a) a “Third Benefit Year” shall commence on the 30th day of June, 1924, and terminate on the 29th day of October, 1924; (b) a “Fourth Benefit Year” shall commence on the 30th day of October, 1924, and terminate on the 25th day of March, 1925; (c) a “Fifth Benefit Year” shall commence on the 26th day of March, 1925, and terminate on the Wednesday nearest to the 16th day of October, 1925; (d) every subsequent Benefit Year shall be the period beginning on the day next following the day on which the preceding Benefit Year expired and ending on the Wednesday nearest to the 16th day of October in the next following calendar year.

Amendment of Schedule to Principal Act.

2.—The expression “Benefit Year” shall be substituted for the expression “Insurance Year” in paragraph 2 of the Second Schedule to the Principal Act.

Calculation of amount of Benefit.

3.—For the purpose of determining the amount of benefit to which, having regard to the proportion of benefit to contributions fixed by paragraph 3 of the Second Schedule to the Principal Act, any person is entitled, but for no other purpose, no account shall, after the termination of the Second Benefit Year, be taken of any benefit which may have been received by such person between the date on which the First Benefit Year commenced and the date on which the Second Benefit Year terminated.

Contributions in respect of military service.

4.—(1) Section 7 of the Act of 1923 is hereby repealed.

(2)The Minister for Defence shall out of monies to be provided by the Oireachtas, pay to the Minister for the credit of the Unemployment Fund such contributions for each person to whom this section applies as are necessary to secure that there are not less than twenty-four contributions to the credit of such person in respect of each insurance year during which, or part of which, such person has been a person to whom this section applies.

(3)This section applies to every person enlisted in the military forces of Saorstát Eireann for a period of service which terminates on or before the 29th day of June, 1924, who in respect of employment before the date of enlistment has had paid for him under the Unemployment Insurance Acts either twenty contributions at any time or ten contributions since the 8th day of November, 1920.

(4)The sums to be paid in each year by the Minister for Defence to the Minister under this section shall be ascertained and paid at such times and in such manner as may be agreed between the Minister for Defence and the Minister.

Periods of Benefit.

5.—Notwithstanding anything in the Unemployment Insurance Acts, 1920 to 1923, or in this Act, no person shall be entitled to receive benefit in the Third Benefit Year established by this Act for periods amounting in the aggregate to more than ten weeks; or in the Fourth Benefit Year established by this Act for periods amounting in the aggregate to more than sixteen weeks; or in the Fifth Benefit Year established by this Act for periods amounting in the aggregate to more than fifteen weeks; or in any subsequent Benefit Year for periods amounting in the aggregate to more than 26 weeks.

Certain enactments not to operate during Third and Fourth Benefit Years.

6.—(1) Condition (i) of sub-section (1) of section 7 of the Principal Act shall not operate or have effect during the Third or Fourth Benefit Years.

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-section (4) of section 8 of the Principal Act no person shall during the Third and Fourth Benefit Years be disqualified for receiving Unemployment Benefit by reason only of the fact that no contributions have been paid in respect of him during any Insurance Year.

(3)Section 35 of the Principal Act (which relates to the purposes for which the Minister may make regulations) shall have effect as if there were added to paragraph (c) of sub-section (1) of that section the following:— “for requiring, on the consideration and examination of any such claims and questions, the attendance of any person whose presence is necessary or desirable for the purpose of giving evidence concerning such claims and questions, and.”

Advances by the Minister for Finance.

7.—(1) The Minister for Finance may out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof, advance any sums required for the purpose of discharging the liabilities of the Unemployment Fund under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, 1920 to 1923, as amended by this Act, and for the purpose of providing the sums to be so advanced the Minister for Finance may borrow money in such manner as he may think proper.

(2)Any sums advanced under the foregoing sub-section, together with interest thereon (if any) at such rate as may be fixed by the Minister for Finance, shall be charged on and be repayable out of the Unemployment Fund.

(3)The principal and interest of any securities issued by the Minister for Finance for the purpose of borrowing under this section and the expenses incurred in connection with the issue of such securities shall be charged on the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof.

Cessation of powers in respect of special schemes.

8.—(1) The power of the Minister under section eighteen of the Principal Act to make special Orders approving or making special schemes shall cease: Provided that the foregoing provision shall not affect the operation of any special scheme duly approved by the Minister before the commencement of this Act.

(2)For the purpose of securing in the case of a special scheme that like rates of benefit shall be payable to the persons to whom the scheme applies as are payable under this Act, and that the Benefits under the scheme shall otherwise be not less favourable than those provided by the general provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Acts, 1920 to 1924 (but for no other purpose), the Minister may, after consultation with the body charged with the administration of the scheme, notwithstanding anything in the said section eighteen, by order vary or amend the provisions of the scheme, and any such order may provide for consequential amendments as to the rates of contribution and otherwise.

(3)Sub-section (7) of section eighteen of the Principal Act (which provides for the payment of a certain sum in every year out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas to the body charged with the administration of a special scheme) shall cease to have effect.

Modification of section 17 of Principal Act.

9.—Notwithstanding anything in any Act, it shall not be necessary for the Minister to require any society or other association to which section seventeen of the Principal Act applies to make, before the end of the Fourth Benefit Year, any greater provision for Unemployment Benefit than such Society or association could have been required to make under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of the said section seventeen as originally enacted.

Reciprocal arrangements with other Governments.

10.—The Minister may, subject to the approval of the Minister for Finance, make such reciprocal or other arrangements with the respective Governments of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as may appear to him necessary or proper in consequence of the severance of the system of unemployment insurance in Saorstát Eireann from that in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Definitions.

11.—In this Act— the expression “Principal Act” means the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920; the expression “Act of 1923” means the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1923 ; the expression “the Minister” means the Minister for Industry and Commerce.

Short title.

12.—This Act may be cited as the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1924, and shall be construed as one with the Unemployment Insurance Acts, 1920 to 1923, and those Acts and this Act may be cited together as the Unemployment Insurance Acts, 1920 to 1924.

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