(1) In this section, "provident benefits" includes any payment expressly authorised by the registered rules of the trade union and made to a member during sickness or incapacity from personal injury or while out of work, or to an aged member by means of superannuation, or to a member who has met with an accident, or has lost his or her tools by fire or theft, and includes a payment in discharge or aid of funeral expenses on the death of a member, or the spouse or civil partner of a member, or as provision for the children of a deceased member or for the children of the civil partner of a deceased member.

(2) A registered trade union which is precluded by statute or by its rules from assuring to any persons a sum exceeding €10,160 by means of gross sum or €2,540 a year by means of annuity shall be entitled to exemption from income tax under Schedules C, D and F in respect of its interest and dividends which are applicable and applied solely for one or more of the following purposes -

(a) provident benefits, and

(b) the education, training or retraining of its members and dependent children of members.

(3) Every claim under this section shall be verified in such manner (including by affidavit) as may be specified by the Revenue Commissioners and proof of the claim may be given by the treasurer, trustee or any duly authorised agent of the trade union concerned.