Legislation

While the Office was established by the Charitable Donations and Bequests Act 1844 the legislation governing the Office was comprehensively revised by the Charities Act 1961 and subsequently by the Charities Act 1973.

Since 1973 the most significant amendment to these Acts was introduced by Part 2 of The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002. That Act extended the jurisdiction of the Board to frame Cy-Pres Schemes without monetary limit. Previously, the Board’s jurisdiction was limited to IR£250,000 and any Cy-Pres applications in excess of the limit placed on the Commissioners’ jurisdiction had to be made to the High Court at considerable expense to the Charity making the application.

The information provided is for general guidance only and should not be regarded as a legal interpretation of the general statutes.