Ministers and government departments

Each minister of the Government is responsible for running and managing the department they have been allocated.

As well as the cabinet minister assigned to the department, The Taoiseach may also appoint junior ministers, or ministers of state, to help run departments.

You can view the list of ministers and ministers of state.

Each department employs a large number of civil servants, including a Secretary General, who remain in their positions regardless of changes in the Government. These officials advise and assist the minister in the running of the department.

You can find out about government spending in each of these departments on whereyourmoneygoes.gov.ie. You can also read about the responsibilities of the people who manage government departments on whodoeswhat.gov.ie.

The minister is responsible for their department and the Taoiseach can remove a minister at any time. Ministers are part of the Government and sit at cabinet meetings, where decisions about government policy and proposals for new Government bills are decided.

The minister may suggest and propose new or amended legislation to the Government relating to matters that arise in their department.

Ministers also have a power to make Statutory Instruments which are also known as delegated or secondary legislation. A Minister may only make a Statutory Instrument if they are permitted to do so in primary legislation. For example, the Immigration Act 2004 gives the Minister for Justice the power to make an order adding or removing a country from the list of countries whose citizens need a visa to enter Ireland.

You can view all Irish Government legislation from 1922 onwards.

There are 18 government departments.

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

• Regulates the agriculture and marine sectors
• Operates schemes and delivers supports to people who work in these sectors
• Maintains a register of food business operators
• Runs the Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS)
• Operates the Forest Service and issues forest licences
• Controls the importation of animals

Visit the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine website.

Department of Children, Disability and Equality

• Responsible for the Child and Family Agency (TUSLA), which oversees child welfare in Ireland
• Operates the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) and the National Childcare Scheme
• Funds local Family Resource Centres

Visit the Department of Children, Disability and Equality website.

Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment

• Responsible for the Government’s plans to tackle climate change
• Oversees home energy grants through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
• Regulates and licences industry through the Environmental Protection Agency

Visit the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment website.

Department of Culture, Communications and Sport

• Oversees programmes to promote Ireland’s culture and arts
• Promotes sports participation among general public and develops high performance facilities for elite athletes
• Develops broadcasting and media policy and oversees organisations such as RTÉ, TG4, and Coimisiún na Meán

Visit the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport website.

Department of Defence

• Responsible for the Irish Army, Air Corps and Navy
• Responsible for the Civil Defence
• Runs the Office of Emergency Planning

Visit the Department of Defence website.

Department of Education and Youth

• Responsible for education policy in Ireland
• Operates the Higher Education Authority
• Operates the State Examinations Commission
• Operates the Teaching Council
• Operates Solas

Visit the Department of Education and Youth website.

Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment

• Promotes investment in Ireland through the IDA
• Supports businesses through grants and funding
• Supports the tourism industry in increasing revenue and employment
• Assesses applications for employment permits

Visit the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment website.

Department of Finance

• Sets the annual budget
• Oversees Revenue
• Oversees the State’s shareholdings in financial services

Visit the Department of Finance website.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

• Promotes Ireland internationally
• Runs Irish consulates and embassies abroad
• Oversees the Passport Service
• Provides consular services for Irish people living abroad

Visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.

Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

• Responsible for further education policy and funding
• Oversees the recognition of foreign qualifications

Visit the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science website.

Department of Health

• Responsible for health policy in Ireland
• Funds the Health Service Executive (HSE)
• Promotes healthier lifestyles and policies to improve the health of people in Ireland
• Issues Medical Cards and GP visit cards through the HSE

Visit the Department of Health website.

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

• Oversees the Residential Tenancies Board
• Oversees local government
• Responsible for public housing policy

Visit the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage website.

Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

• Oversees the Courts Service
• Oversees Immigration Service Delivery and the International Protection Office
• Responsible for national security and intelligence

Visit the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration website.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

• Oversees government spending
• Promotes reform across the civil and public service
• Co-ordinates the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) which has responsibility for the government’s digital services
• Oversees the delivery of the National Development Plan, Project Ireland 2040, to support expected population growth through development of infrastructure, jobs, homes and amenities

Visit the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation website.

Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht

• Oversees a range of programmes intended to promote social integration and sustainable community development
• Promotes use of the Irish language among the general public and supports the development of the Gaeltacht
• Bodies overseen by the Department include Pobal, and the Charities Regulator

Visit the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht website.

Department of Social Protection

• Provides income supports, such as Jobseeker’s supports and Illness Benefit
• Operates employment support services, such as the Community Employment programme and Tús
• Investigates fraud and abuse in the social protection system

Visit the Department of Social Protection website.

Department of the Taoiseach

• Works with other government departments to implement policy, primarily through the cabinet committee structure
• Responsible for liaising with the President and the Houses of the Oireachtas on behalf of the government

Visit the Department of the Taoiseach website.

Department of Transport

• Oversees the work of a range of agencies responsible for the development and operation of Ireland’s transport infrastructure
• Bodies overseen by the Department include the National Transport Authority, the Road Safety Authority (RSA), the Coast Guard and the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU)

Visit the Department of Transport website.