Unemployment Insurance Act, 1933

What is this act about?

This law amends previous Unemployment Insurance Acts to change the rates of contributions paid by employed persons and their employers, and to allow the Minister for Finance to advance sums to the Unemployment Fund.

Who it applies to: Employed persons (men, women, boys, and girls); Employers of employed persons.

At a glance

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

What does this act regulate?

The rates of contributions payable for unemployment insurance.
The contribution rate from moneys provided by the Oireachtas to the Unemployment Fund.
The ability of the Minister for Finance to advance funds to cover liabilities of the Unemployment Fund.
The repayment of advances made by the Minister for Finance.

Who does this act apply to?

Employed persons (men, women, boys, and girls).
Employers of employed persons.
The Minister for Finance.

What are the key points?

Contributions from employed men are 9d. per week, and from employed women are 7d. per week.
Contributions from employers for employed men are 10d. per week, and for employed women are 8d. per week.
For employed boys under eighteen, the contribution from the boy is 4½d. per week, and from the employer is 5d. per week.
For employed girls under eighteen, the contribution from the girl is 4d. per week, and from the employer is 4½d. per week.
The Minister for Finance can advance sums from the Central Fund to the Unemployment Fund for liabilities under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, 1920 to 1930, as amended, and any Act passed before March 31, 1934, for the relief of unemployed persons.
This Act came into operation on April 1, 1934.

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 (5)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5

Unemployment Insurance Act, 1933 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 1933 Unemployment Insurance Act, 1933 Unemployment Insurance Act, 1933 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 44 of 1933.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT, 1933.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Definitions.

Section 2

Alteration of rates of contribution.

Section 3

Amendment of section 12 of the Principal Act.

Section 4

Advances by Minister for Finance.

Section 5

Short title, construction, citation and commencement.

SCHEDULE.

Act Referred to Unemployment Insurance Act, 1930 No. 33 of 1930 Number 44 of 1933.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT, 1933.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACTS, 1920 TO 1930, WITH RESPECT TO THE AMOUNT OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS PAYABLE UNDER THOSE ACTS, AND TO MAKE ALL NECESSARY CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS OF THE SAID ACTS. [16th November, 1933.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS OF SAORSTÁT EIREANN AS FOLLOWS:— Definitions.

1.—In this Act— the expression “the Principal Act” means the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920; the expression “the Act of 1930” means the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1930 (No. 33 of 1930).

Alteration of rates of contribution.

2.—(1) The contributions payable under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, 1920 to 1930, in respect of employed persons by those persons and their employers respectively shall, in lieu of the rates fixed by section 2 of the Act of 1930, be at the rates set out in the Schedule to this Act.

(2)The contribution to be made for the purposes of section 5 of the Principal Act out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas shall, in lieu of the rate fixed by section 2 of the Act of 1930, be at a rate equal to two-sevenths of the aggregate amount of the contributions paid in respect of the employed person by himself and his employer or, in the case of an exempt person, paid by his employer, and sub-sections (3) and (7) of the said section 5 shall have effect accordingly.

Amendment of section 12 of the Principal Act.

3.—

Section 3

of the Act of 1930 is hereby repealed and in lieu thereof it is hereby enacted that the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 12 of the Principal Act shall be construed and have effect as if for the word “one-tenth” now contained therein there were inserted the word “three-twentieths.”

Advances by Minister for Finance.

4.—(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 1930, as amended by this Act, and under any Act passed or to be passed before the 31st day of March, 1934 to provide for the relief of unemployed persons and to make such financial and other provisions as may be required for that purpose, 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 any 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.

Short title, construction, citation and commencement.

5.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1933.

(2)This Act shall be construed as one with the Unemployment Insurance Acts, 1920 to 1930, and those Acts and this Act may be cited together as the Unemployment Insurance Acts, 1920 to 1933.

(3)This Act shall come into operation on the 1st day of April, 1934.

SCHEDULE.

Rates of Contribution by Employed Persons and Employers.

PART I.

Ordinary Rates.

1.From the employed person, for each week— in the case of men 9d. in the case of women 7d.

2.From the employer, for each week— in the case of an employed person who is a man 10d. in the case of an employed person who is a woman.

8d.

PART II.

Rates in the Case of Persons Under Eighteen Years Of Age.

1.From the employed person, for each week— in the case of boys 4½d. in the case of girls 4d.

2.From the employer, for each week— in the case of an employed person who is a boy 5d. in the case of an employed person who is a girl 4½d.

Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais

AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.