2.—(1) In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires—

“advocacy services” includes services in which the interests of a person seeking a social service are represented in order to assist such person in securing entitlements to such service but does not include legal representation.

F1[‘Board’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 6, as amended by section 3 of the Citizens Information Act 2007;]

F2[ ‘deciding officer’ has the meaning it has in section 2(1) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005;

‘the Director’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 7A;

‘disability’, in relation to a person, means a substantial restriction in the capacity of the person to carry on a profession, business or occupation in the State or to participate in social or cultural life in the State by reason of an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment; ]

“establishment day” means the day appointed under section 3 to be the establishment day for the purposes of this Act;

“former Board” means the National Social Service Board;

“functions” includes powers and duties, and references to the performance of functions include, as respects powers and duties, references to the exercise of the powers and the carrying out of the duties;

“health board” means—

(a) a health board established under the Health Act, 1970,

(b) the Eastern Regional Health Authority, or

(c) an Area Health Board established under the Health (Eastern Regional Health Authority) Act, 1999;

“Minister” means the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs;

F2[ ‘Personal Advocacy Service’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 7A;

‘personal advocates’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 7A;

‘qualifying person’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 7A;

‘social service’ means any service provided by a statutory body or voluntary body that is available or accessible to the public generally or a section of the public pursuant to statute or otherwise and includes, but is not limited to, a service in relation to any of the following, namely, health, social welfare, education, family support, housing, taxation, citizenship, consumer matters, F3[advice on personal debt and money management,] employment and training, equality, asylum and immigration;]

“statutory body” means—

(a) a Department of State,

(b) a health board,

(c) a local authority,

(d) the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland,

(e) a board or other body (but not a company) established by or under statute,

(f) a company in which all the shares are held by, or on behalf of, or by directors appointed by, a Minister of the Government, or

(g) a company in which all the shares are held by a board, company or other body referred to in paragraph (e) or (f) of this definition;

F1[ ‘voluntary body’ means—

(a) a body corporate, or

(b) an unincorporated body of persons,

other than a statutory body, and includes a body commonly known as F3[a money advice and budgeting service,] a Citizen Information Service or a Citizen Information Centre;]

(2) In this Act—

(a) a reference to a section is a reference to a section of this Act, unless it is indicated that a reference to some other provision is intended,

(b) a reference to a subsection, paragraph or subparagraph is a reference to the subsection, paragraph or subparagraph of the provision in which the reference occurs unless it is indicated that a reference to some other provision is intended.

(3) A reference to another enactment is to that enactment as amended or modified at any time by any enactment.