Written answers

Thursday, 4 April 2019

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Departmental Projects

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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36. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the consolidation project being undertaken by the Law Reform Commission on the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005; the cost of the project; the estimated timeframe for completion of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15367/19]

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department has recently commenced working collaboratively with the Law Reform Commission for the purpose of preparing and publishing a Revised Version of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005.  This will incorporate all amendments to the SWCA 2005 which have (to date) been made in 26 Social Welfare Amendment Acts and, to a lesser extent, in 14 other Acts of the Oireachtas.  The Revised Act will also include editorial details of the several hundred Statutory Instruments made under the SWCA 2005, or made under earlier legislation but continued in force by Section 362(2) of SWCA 2005.

The Law Reform Commission has prepared and published 360 Revised Acts covering a wide spectrum of legislative codes.  To date the Social Welfare Acts were excluded from this process mainly, I understand, due to their size.

Following discussions between my Department and the Law Reform Commission a Departmental official is working with the Commission to publish the SWCA 2005 on a Revised basis.  The work is being undertaken in full compliance with the Commission’s Operational Manual for the Preparation of Revised Acts.

It is envisaged that the work will take at least 12 months to complete.  Given that the work involved is being undertaken by an existing staff member of my Department and by existing staff of the Law Reform Commission, it is not envisaged that this project will give rise to any additional costs.  I am advised by my Department that the work when completed will be very beneficial and will ensure that the body of Social Welfare law will be more accessible and can be kept up-to-date into the future.

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