Updated to 16 September 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025 and S.I. No. 431 of 2025)
All effects below are reflected in the most recent Revised Act.
Disability Act 2005
No. 14 of 2005
Contents
Commencement
| Section | Commencement/Effective Date Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Information |
|---|---|---|
| Ss. 1-6 | 29 July 2005 | Disability Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 474 of 2005), art. 3(1)(a) |
| Ss. 7-23 in relation to persons born on or after 1 June 2002 | 6 January 2022 | Disability Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 3 of 2022), art. 2 |
| Ss. 7-23 in relation to persons under 5 years of age | 1 June 2007 | Disability Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 234 of 2007), art. 2 |
| S. 24 | 29 July 2005 | Disability Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 474 of 2005), art. 3(1)(b) |
| S. 25 | 31 December 2005 | S. 25(7) |
| S. 26 | 31 December 2005 | S. 26(3) |
| S. 27 | 31 December 2005 | S. 27(4) |
| S. 28 | 31 December 2005 | S. 28(4) |
| S. 29 | 31 December 2007 | S. 29(4) |
| Ss. 30-37 | 29 July 2005 | Disability Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 474 of 2005), art. 3(1)(b) |
| Ss. 38-51 | 31 December 2005 | Disability Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 474 of 2005), art. 3(2)(a)-3(2)(c) |
| S. 52 | 1 January 2007 | Disability Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 474 of 2005), art. 3(3) |
| Ss. 53-58 | 29 July 2005 | Disability Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 474 of 2005), art. 3(1)(c) |
Amendments and other effects
| How Affected | Affecting Provision | Affecting Provision Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regard to be had to transport sectoral plan under Act | 15/2008, ss. 4, 12(5)(e), 64(2)(d) | 16 July 2008 | Commenced on enactment |
| Transfer of certain functions under | S.I. No. 688 of 2022, regs. 1(2), 2(b)(ii) | 1 March 2023 | S.I. No. 688 of 2022, regs. 1(2) |
| S.I. No. 436 of 2020, arts. 1(2), 2, 3, schedule 1 | 14 October 2020 | S.I. No. 436 of 2020, arts. 1(2) | |
| S.I. No. 139 of 2011, arts. 1(2), 3(1), schedule | 1 April 2011 | S.I. No. 139 of 2011, arts. 1(2) | |
| S.I. No. 217 of 2010, arts. 1(2), 2, 3 and sch., | 1 June 2010 | S.I. No. 217 of 2010, arts. 1(2) | |
| S. 2(1) definition of "public body" paragraph (e) amended | 44/2009, ss. 14(1), 15(3), schedule part 1 | 1 January 2010 | S. 15(3) |
| S. 3 functions transferred and references construed | S.I. No. 595 of 2023, arts. 1(2), 2-8 | 29 November 2023 | S.I. No. 595 of 2023, arts. 1(2) |
| S.I. No. 418 of 2011, arts. 1(2), 3 and sch. 1 | 29 July 2011 | S.I. No. 418 of 2011, arts. 1(2) | |
| Part 2 (ss. 7-23) transfer of functions | S.I. No. 688 of 2022, regs. 1(2), 4, schedule, part 2 | 1 March 2023 | S.I. No. 688 of 2022, regs. 1(2), 4, schedule, part 2 |
| S. 9(2)(a) amended | 24/2010, ss. 1(2), 170, schedule part. 5 item 23 | 1 January 2011 | Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 648 of 2010), art. 3 |
| S. 10 amended | 23/2007, ss. 3, 105, schedule 2 part 6 | 15 May 2007 | Health Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 226 of 2007), art. 2(e)(v) |
| S. 12(3) deleted | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(a) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| S. 13(4) deleted | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(b) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| S. 14 form for complaints prescribed | S.I. No. 263 of 2007, regs. 2, 23 | 1 June 2007 | S.I. No. 263 of 2007, regs. 2 |
| S. 14 time limit for complaints prescribed | S.I. No. 263 of 2007, regs. 2, 24 | 1 June 2007 | S.I. No. 263 of 2007, regs. 2 |
| S. 18 form for appeal prescribed under | S.I. No. 263 of 2007, regs. 2, 25 | 1 June 2007 | S.I. No. 263 of 2007, regs. 2 |
| S. 24 substituted | 1/2014, ss. 1(22), 5(8), schedule 2 pt. 6 | 24 March 2014 | Local Government Reform Act 2014 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 146 of 2014), art. 3(b) |
| S. 29(3) amended | 26/2023, ss. 1, 239 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(12) | |
| S. 29(3)(c) amended | 34/2024, ss. 1(3), 631, schedule 7, ref. no. 25 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(3) | |
| S. 30 code of practice prepared and approved | S.I. No. 484 of 2011, art. 2, schedule | 23 September 2011 | |
| S.I. No. 163 of 2006, art. 2, schedule | 6 April 2006 | ||
| S. 31(1)(g) inserted | 6/2022, ss. 1(2), 49 | 1 March 2023 | Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Commencement) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 666 of 2022), art. 2 |
| S. 32(1)(c) deleted | 6/2022, ss. 1(2), 50 | 1 March 2023 | Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Commencement) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 666 of 2022), art. 2 |
| S. 32(1)(d) deleted | 6/2022, ss. 1(2), 50 | 1 March 2023 | Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Commencement) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 666 of 2022), art. 2 |
| S. 32A inserted | 6/2022, ss. 1(2), 51 | 1 March 2023 | Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Commencement) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 666 of 2022), art. 2 |
| S. 35(1)(a) transfer of functions under | S.I. No. 842 of 2005, arts. 1(2), 4, schedule | 1 January 2006 | |
| S. 35(1)(b) transfer of functions under | S.I. No. 842 of 2005, arts. 1(2), 4, schedule | 1 January 2006 | |
| S. 40 amended | 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 25(a) | 31 October 2012 | S. 1(3) |
| S. 40(b) amended | 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 25(b) | 31 October 2012 | S. 1(3) |
| S. 40(d) amended | 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 25(c) | 31 October 2012 | S. 1(3) |
| S. 41 amended | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(c) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| S. 41 data controller of genetic information not specified for purposes of s. 16(1) of the Data Protection Act 1988 | S. I. No. 657 of 2007, reg. 4(g). See also reg. 4(h) in relation to data processor | 1 October 2007 | S. I. No. 657 of 2007, reg. 4(g). See also reg. 4(h) in relation to data processor |
| S. 42(1)(b) amended | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(d)(i) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| S. 42(2)(a) amended | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(d)(ii) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| S. 42(4) substituted | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(d)(iii) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| Ss. 42(5), 42(6) inserted | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(d)(iv) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| S. 43 deleted | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(e) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| S. 43(2)(c) amended | 23/2010, ss. 2, 15(8), schedule 2 part 8 item 1 | 1 October 2010 | Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 469 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 44(2) references construed | 7/2018, ss. 9, 14(2), 14(4) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| S. 44(2) amended | 23/2010, ss. 2, 15(8), schedule 2 part 8 item 2 | 1 October 2010 | Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 469 of 2010), art. 2 |
| S. 45(1) deleted | 7/2018, ss. 1(3), 202(f) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
| Part 5 (ss. 46-51) applied | S.I. No. 600 of 2006, art. 2 | 3 December 2006 | |
| S. 46(3) amended | 1/2024, ss. 1(2), 278 | 2 April 2025 | Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 107 of 2025), art. 2 |
| 46/2022, ss. 1(5), 101(a) | 26 April 2023 | Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 194 of 2023), art. 3(c) | |
| S. 47 functions transferred and references construed | S.I. No. 418 of 2011, arts. 1(2), 3 and sch. 1 | 29 July 2011 | S.I. No. 418 of 2011, arts. 1(2) |
| S. 47(4) substituted | 46/2022, ss. 1(5), 101(b) | 26 April 2023 | Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 194 of 2023), art. 3(c) |
| S. 53 repealed | 18/2009, s. 3, schedule 1 | 12 July 2009 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 55(4)(c) references construed | 7/2018, ss. 9, 14(2), 14(4) | 25 May 2018 | Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3 |
SIs made under the Act
| Section | SIs made under the Act |
|---|---|
| S. 3 | Disability (Assessment of Needs, Service Statements and Redress) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 601 of 2023) |
| S. 21 | Disability (Assessment of Needs, Service Statements and Redress) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 601 of 2023) |
| Disability (Assessment of Needs, Service Statements and Redress) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 704 of 2021) | |
| Disability (Assessment of Needs, Service Statements and Redress) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 263 of 2007) | |
| S. 30(4) | Disability Act 2005 (Code of Practice) (Declaration) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 484 of 2011) |
| Disability Act 2005 (Code of Practice) (Declaration) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 163 of 2006) |