S.I. No. 45/1999 - Social Welfare Act, 1998 (Part IV) (Commencement) Order, 1999.

1. This Order may be cited as the Social Welfare Act, 1998 (Part IV) (Commencement) Order, 1999.

Commencement.

2. The 5th day of February, 1999, is hereby appointed as the day on which Part IV of the

Social Welfare Act, 1998

(No. 6 of 1998), shall come into operation.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, on this 5th day of February, 1999.

DERMOT AHERN,

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

This Order provides that Part IV of the

Social Welfare Act, 1998

will come into effect on the 5th day of February, 1999.

Part IV provides for

— the introduction of a new personal social service number (PPSN) which will replace the Revenue and Social Insurance (RSI) number and will be used as a unique identifier within the Public Service,

— the introduction of a Public Service Card and a Payment Card and

— the sharing of information between specified bodies for the purposes of determining entitlement to certain social services and for the control of such services.

The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by

section 15

of the

Social Welfare Act, 1998

(No. 6 of 1998), hereby orders as follows

Citation.