S.I. No. 202/1996:

SOCIAL WELFARE (CONSOLIDATED SUPPLEMENTARY WELFARE ALLOWANCE) (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) REGULATIONS, 1996

SOCIAL WELFARE (CONSOLIDATED SUPPLEMENTARY WELFARE ALLOWANCE) (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) REGULATIONS, 1996

The Minister for Social Welfare, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 4 (as amended by section 37 of the Social Welfare Act, 1996 (No. 7 of 1996)), 175 (as amended by section 36 of the Social Welfare Act, 1996 ), 188 and 206 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993 (No. 27 of 1993), hereby makes the following Regulations:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Welfare Allowance) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 1996.

(2) These Regulations and the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Welfare Allowance) Regulations 1995 and 1996 shall be construed together as one and may be cited together as the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Welfare Allowance) Regulations, 1995 to 1996.

2. In these Regulations "the Principal Regulations" means the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Welfare Allowance) Regulations, 1995 ( S.I. No. 382 of 1995 ).

3. These Regulations shall come into operation on the 17th day of June, 1996.

4. The Principal Regulations are hereby amended by the substitution for article 24 of the following articles:

"24 .(1) The categories of payment prescribed for the purposes of section 175 of the Principal Act shall be payments made under sections 177, 178, 179, 181 and 182 of the said Act.

(2) Sub-article (1) shall apply to such part of the functional area of a health board as may, from time to time, be agreed between the Minister and the health board.

Time and manner of payment.

24A. (1) Subject to sub-article (2), supplementary welfare allowance shall be paid in accordance with a determination under the provisions of the Principal Act as soon as is reasonably practicable thereafter and payment shall be made either by --

(a) the Minister --

(i) by cheque issued directly to the claimant or beneficiary,

(ii) by an order payable at a post office designated by the claimant or beneficiary, or where the Minister considers it appropriate, at a post office designated by the Minister,

(iii) by direct credit transfer to an account nominated by the claimant or beneficiary and where the said allowance is so paid, the claimant or beneficiary shall be deemed to have received such payment, or

(b) an officer of the health board by cheque issued to the claimant or beneficiary on behalf of the Minister.

(2) Other than in the case of payments prescribed for the purpose of section 175 of the Principal Act, supplementary welfare allowance shall be paid in accordance with a determination under the provisions of the said Act as soon as is reasonably practicable thereafter at such time and in such manner as the health board may determine.".

GIVEN under the Official Seal of

the Minister for Social Welfare

this 17th day of June, 1996.

PROINSIAS DE ROSSA

Minister for Social Welfare.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The purpose of these Regulations is to enable payment of Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) to be made under a computerised system known as the Integrated Short-Term Schemes system (ISTS) which is being implemented throughout the various Health Board areas on a phased basis commencing on 17 June 1996.

The Regulations provide for SWA payments to be made in one of the following ways:

In areas where the ISTS System has been implemented:

-- a computerised payment issued by the Department of Social Welfare in the form of a cheque, post-draft or by direct credit transfer to an account nominated by the claimant;

-- a cheque issued by the health board on behalf of the Minister for Social Welfare;

In areas where ISTS has not yet been implemented:

-- The time and manner of payment to be determined by the health board, as at present. This will usually be in the form of a cheque issued by the health board directly to the claimant.