S.I. No. 224/1984:

SOCIAL WELFARE (CONTRIBUTIONS) REGULATIONS, 1984.

SOCIAL WELFARE (CONTRIBUTIONS) REGULATIONS, 1984.

The Minister for Social Welfare, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 3 and 14 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981 (No. 1 of 1981), hereby makes the following Regulations:--

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social welfare (Contributions) Regulations, 1984.

(2) The Social Welfare (Contributions) Regulations, 1953 to 1983 and these Regulations shall be construed as one and may be cited together as the Social Welfare (Contributions) Regulations, 1953 to 1984.

(3) In these Regulations "the Principal Regulations" means the Social Welfare (Contributions) Regulations, 1953 ( S.I. No. 5 of 1953 ).

2. Subject to the provisions of the Principal Regulations and to the provisions of article 4, an employment contribution shall be credited to an insured person for any contribution week during the whole or part of which he is in receipt of an allowance under the Enterprise Allowance Scheme administered by the Department of Labour, provided that where payment of an allowance under the Scheme is made in the form of a lump sum or is made either partly in the form of a lump sum and partly by means of a weekly allowance such employment contributions may be credited to the insured person from the commencement date of the period in respect of which the allowance is awarded for a period of 52 contribution weeks or until the earlier termination of the enterprise.

3. Subject to the provisions of the Principal Regulations and to the provisions of article 4, employment contributions may be credited to an insured person for a period of 156 contribution weeks commencing with the contribution week in which he receives payment of a loan under the Youth Self-Employment Programme of the Youth Employment Agency, or until he sooner ceases working on the business venture established by him under the Programme as his full-time occupation.

4. (1) An employment contribution shall only be credited to an insured person in accordance with the provisions of article 2 or article 3 provided that an employment contribution, other than a contribution under section 65 (2) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981 is not payable in respect of him or an employment contribution in respect of duly notified incapacity for work is not credited to him for that week.

(2) An employment contribution credited by virtue of these Regulations to a person who is a voluntary contributor or to whom article 7 of the Social Welfare (Modifications of Insurance) Regulations, 1979 ( S.I. No. 87 of 1979 ) applies or applied when he was last in employment shall be taken into account in relation to widow's (contributory) pension and deserted wife's benefit only or to widow's (contributory) pension, deserted wife's benefit, retirement pension, old age (contributory) pension and death grant as the case may be.

(3) The restriction provided for in article 5 of the Principal Regulations in relation to the grant of credits in respect of periods of incapacity for work or of unemployment shall apply also to the granting of credits by virtue of these Regulations.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Social Welfare this

24th day of August 1984.

BARRY DESMOND,

Minister for Social Welfare.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These Regulations enable credited contributions under the social insurance system to be awarded to insured persons who are paid an allowance under the Enterprise Allowance Scheme administered by the Department of Labour and to insured persons who receive a loan under the Youth Self-Employment Programme administered by the Youth Employment Agency.

The Regulations provide that participants in the Enterprise Allowance Scheme may be awarded credited contributions for up to 52 contribution weeks and that those who take part in the Youth Self-Employment Programme may be awarded credited contributions for up to 156 contribution weeks.