PART I

Preliminary

Short title and construction.

1. —(1) This Act may be cited as the Social Welfare Act, 1996.

(2) The Social Welfare Acts and this Act (other than Parts X and XI and section 15 (5)) shall be construed together as one.

Definitions.

2. —In this Act—

“the Principal Act” means the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993 ;

“the Act of 1994” means the Social Welfare Act, 1994 ;

“the Act of 1995” means the Social Welfare Act, 1995;

“the No. 2 Act of 1995” means the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act, 1995.