Minister for Children, Disability and Equality
| Minister for Children, Disability and Equality | |
|---|---|
 | |
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| Department of Children, Disability and Equality | |
| Status | Cabinet Minister |
| Member of | |
| Reports to | Taoiseach |
| Seat | Dublin, Ireland |
| Nominator | Taoiseach |
| Appointer | President of Ireland (on the advice of the Taoiseach) |
| Inaugural holder | Richard Mulcahy as Minister for the Gaeltacht |
| Formation | 2 June 1956 |
| Salary | €210,750 (2025) (including €115,953 TD salary)[1] |
| Website | Official website  |
The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality (Irish: An tAire Leanaí, Míchumais agus Comhionannais) is a senior minister in the government of Ireland and leads the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality since January 2025[update] is Norma Foley, TD. She is assisted by a minister of state:
- Hildegarde Naughton, TD – Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality with responsibility for disability.
Overview
[edit]The office was created in 1956 as the Minister for the Gaeltacht. Its title and functions have changed several times, with the current title adopted in 2020.[2] An office of minister of state for children existed from 2005 to 2011.[3]
Responsibility for the Gaeltacht was transferred to the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in 2011[4] and to the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht in 2025.
List of office-holders
[edit]
Minister for the Gaeltacht 1956–1993[edit] | |||||
| Name | Term of office | Party | Government(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Mulcahy | 2 June 1956 | 24 October 1956 | Fine Gael | 7th | |
| Patrick Lindsay | 24 October 1956 | 20 March 1957 | Fine Gael | 7th | |
| Jack Lynch | 20 March 1957 | 26 June 1957 | Fianna Fáil | 8th | |
| Mícheál Ó Móráin (1st time) |
26 June 1957 | 23 July 1959 | Fianna Fáil | 8th • 9th | |
| Gerald Bartley | 23 July 1959 | 11 October 1961 | Fianna Fáil | 9th | |
| Mícheál Ó Móráin (2nd time) |
11 October 1961 | 26 March 1968 | Fianna Fáil | 10th • 11th • 12th | |
| Pádraig Faulkner | 27 March 1968 | 2 July 1969 | Fianna Fáil | 12th | |
| George Colley | 2 July 1969 | 14 March 1973 | Fianna Fáil | 13th | |
| Tom O'Donnell | 14 March 1973 | 5 July 1977 | Fine Gael | 14th | |
| Denis Gallagher (1st time) |
5 July 1977 | 11 December 1979 | Fianna Fáil | 15th | |
| Máire Geoghegan-Quinn | 12 December 1979 | 30 June 1981 | Fianna Fáil | 16th | |
| Paddy O'Toole (1st time) |
30 June 1981 | 9 March 1982 | Fine Gael | 17th | |
| Pádraig Flynn | 9 March 1982 | 11 October 1982 | Fianna Fáil | 18th | |
| Denis Gallagher (2nd time) |
11 October 1982 | 14 December 1982 | Fianna Fáil | 18th | |
| Paddy O'Toole (2nd time) |
14 December 1982 | 10 March 1987 | Fine Gael | 19th | |
| Charles Haughey | 10 March 1987 | 11 February 1992 | Fianna Fáil | 20th • 21st | |
| John Wilson | 11 February 1992 | 12 January 1993 | Fianna Fáil | 22nd | |
Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht 1993–1997[edit] | |||||
| Name | Term of office | Party | Government(s) | ||
| Michael D. Higgins (1st time) |
12 January 1993 | 17 November 1994 | Labour | 23rd | |
| Bertie Ahern | 18 November 1994 | 15 December 1994 | Fianna Fáil | 23rd | |
| Michael D. Higgins (2nd time) |
15 December 1994 | 26 June 1997 | Labour | 24th | |
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands 1997–2002[edit] | |||||
| Name | Term of office | Party | Government(s) | ||
| Síle de Valera | 26 June 1997 | 6 June 2002 | Fianna Fáil | 25th | |
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 2002–2010[edit] | |||||
| Name | Term of office | Party | Government(s) | ||
| Éamon Ó Cuív | 6 June 2002 | 23 March 2010 | Fianna Fáil | 26th • 27th • 28th | |
Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs 2010–2011[edit] | |||||
| Name | Term of office | Party | Government(s) | ||
| Pat Carey | 23 March 2010 | 9 March 2011 | Fianna Fáil | 28th | |
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs 2011–2020[edit] | |||||
| Name | Term of office | Party | Government(s) | ||
| Frances Fitzgerald | 9 March 2011 | 7 May 2014 | Fine Gael | 29th | |
| Charles Flanagan | 8 May 2014 | 11 July 2014 | Fine Gael | 29th | |
| James Reilly | 11 July 2014 | 6 May 2016 | Fine Gael | 29th | |
| Katherine Zappone | 6 May 2016 | 27 June 2020 | Independent | 30th • 31st | |
Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth 2020–2025[edit] | |||||
| Name | Term of office | Party | Government(s) | ||
| Roderic O'Gorman | 27 June 2020 | 23 January 2025 | Green | 32nd • 33rd • 34th | |
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality 2025–present[edit] | |||||
| Name | Term of office | Party | Government(s) | ||
| Norma Foley | 23 January 2025 | Incumbent | Fianna Fáil | 35th | |
References
[edit]- ^ "Salaries". Houses of the Oireachtas. 3 March 2025.
- ^ "Children and Youth Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2020". Irish Statute Book. 13 October 2020. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ Lenihan, Brian (4 April 2006). "Written Answers: Youth Services". Dáil Debates. 617 (4). Retrieved 11 May 2025.
- ^ Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 164 of 2011). Signed on 5 April 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.