Public Health (Special Expenses) Act, 1931

What is this act about?

This law allows county councils to help pay for certain public health works carried out by health boards and changes how the costs for these works are divided among different areas.

Who it applies to: County councils; Boards of public health and boards of health and public assistance (referred to as "boards of health").

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Social security
Articles: 5
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

Contributions from county councils to the cost of public health works.
The maximum amount a county council can contribute annually to a health board.
The types of public health works that qualify for county council contributions.
How special expenses incurred by health boards are apportioned to specific areas.

Who does this act apply to?

County councils.
Boards of public health and boards of health and public assistance (referred to as "boards of health").

What are the key points?

County councils can agree to pay an annual sum to a board of health for a period of years to help with expenses for certain works.
These annual contributions are raised by the county council through the poor rate, applied equally over the county health district.
The total annual contribution from a county council to one board of health cannot exceed the produce of a rate of threepence in the pound (with Minister's approval) or three-halfpence in the pound (without Minister's approval) on the valuation of rateable property.
Qualifying works include the provision or improvement of sewers, sewage disposal, or water supply for a place within the board of health's district, where the capital cost is defrayed from borrowed money and repayment expenses are special expenses for an area smaller than a county health district.

Social security

Old Age Pension Act, 1924

Superannuation and Pensions Act, 1923

Social Welfare Act, 1974

Sea Fisheries Act, 1931

British-Irish Agreement (Amendment) Act, 2002

Vocational Education (Amendment) Act, 1947

Connaught Rangers (Pensions) Act, 1936

Courts of Justice and Court Officers (Superannuation) Act, 1961

Social security

Legal text

Contents (5)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5

Public Health (Special Expenses) Act, 1931 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 1931 Public Health (Special Expenses) Act, 1931 Public Health (Special Expenses) Act, 1931 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 3 of 1931.

PUBLIC HEALTH (SPECIAL EXPENSES) ACT, 1931.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Definitions.

Section 2

Contribution by county council to cost of works.

Section 3

Apportionment of special expenses.

Section 4

Contributory places.

Section 5

Short title and citation.

Acts Referred to Local Government Act, 1925 No. 5 of 1925 Local Government Act, 1927 No. 3 of 1927 Number 3 of 1931.

PUBLIC HEALTH (SPECIAL EXPENSES) ACT, 1931.

AN ACT TO ENABLE COUNTY COUNCILS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COST OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF WORKS EXECUTED BY BOARDS OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND BOARDS OF HEALTH AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO THE AREAS OF CHARGE OF SPECIAL EXPENSES INCURRED BY SUCH BOARDS. [24th March, 1931.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS OF SAORSTÁT EIREANN AS FOLLOWS:— Definitions.

1.—In this Act:— the expression “board of health” includes both a board of public health and a board of health and public assistance; the expression “the Minister” means the Minister for Local Government and Public Health.

Contribution by county council to cost of works.

2.—(1) The council of a county may agree with the board of health for a county health district situate in such county to pay to such board, for such period of years as may be agreed upon between such council and such board, an annual sum by way of contribution towards the expenses incurred (whether before or after the passing of this Act) by such board in the execution of a work to which this section applies, and thereupon such council shall pay such annual sum to such board accordingly.

(2)Every annual sum payable by the council of a county to a board of health under this section shall be raised by such council by means of the poor rate equally over the area of the county health district of such board.

(3)The total amount payable under this section by the council of a county to any one board of health in any one local financial year shall not exceed whichever of the following sums is applicable, that is to say:— (a) with the approval of the Minister, a sum equivalent to the produce of a rate of threepence in the pound on the valuation under the Valuation Acts of the rateable property in the county health district of such board, or (b) without the approval of the Minister, a sum equivalent to the produce of a rate of three-halfpence in the pound on the said valuation.

(4)This section applies only to works complying with both the following conditions, that is to say:— (a) that the work consists of the provision or improvement of sewers or of sewage disposal or the provision or improvement of a supply of water for a place situate within the county health district of the board of health by which the work is executed; and (b) that so much of the capital cost of the work as is defrayed by a board of health is so defrayed out of borrowed moneys and the expenses of the repayment of such moneys are raisable as special expenses under the Public Health (Ireland) Acts, 1878 to 1919, as amended by the Local Government Acts, 1925 and 1927, off an area less than a county health district.

Apportionment of special expenses.

3.—(1) When the Minister determines, under section 232 of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, as amended by section 14 of the Local Government Act, 1925 (No. 5 of 1925), and by this Act, the area of charge of any special expenses incurred by a board of health, the Minister may determine that such expenses shall be chargeable, as between a contributory place and any sub-contributory place or places situate in such contributory place, in such proportions as the Minister shall think proper to specify in that behalf.

(2)The proportion of any special expenses apportioned under this section to a contributory place or a sub-contributory place shall be deemed to be special expenses incurred in or in respect of such contributory place or sub-contributory place, as the case may be.

(3)In this section the expression “contributory place” has the same meaning as it has in section 232 of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, as amended by section 14 of the Local Government Act, 1925 (No. 5 of 1925), and by this Act, and the expression “sub-contributory place” means a contributory place which is situate within and forms portion of a larger contributory place.

Contributory places.

4.—A district electoral division shall be a contributory place for the purposes of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878 , in addition to the areas mentioned in that behalf in sub-section (4) of section 14 of the Local Government Act, 1925 (No. 5. of 1925).

Short title and citation.

5.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Public Health (Special Expenses) Act, 1931.

(2)The Public Health (Ireland) Acts, 1878 to 1919, Part II of the Local Government Act, 1925 (No. 5 of 1925), so much of the Local Government Act, 1927 (No. 3 of 1927), as relates to public health and this Act may be cited together as the Public Health Acts, 1878 to 1931.

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