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Department of Children, Disability and Equality

Irish government department

Summary

Irish government department

FieldValue
agency_nameDepartment of Children, Disability and Equality
typeDepartment
imageIrish Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.png
seal_width80px
formed2 June 1956
jurisdictionGovernment of Ireland
headquartersMiesian Plaza,
Baggot Street,
Dublin
coordinates
minister1_nameNorma Foley
minister1_pfo
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality
chief1_nameKevin McCarthy
chief1_position
Secretary General
website

Baggot Street, Dublin Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Secretary General The Department of Children, Disability and Equality () is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.

Departmental team

The official headquarters and ministerial offices of the department are on Lower Baggot Street, Dublin. The departmental team consists of the following:

  • Minister for Children, Disability and Equality: Norma Foley, TD
    • Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality with special responsibility for disability: Emer Higgins, TD
  • Secretary General of the Department: Kevin McCarthy

Divisions

The department has the following divisions:

  • Disability Division
  • Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Division
  • Child Policy and Tusla Governance Division
  • Equality, Rights and Participation Division
  • Mother and Baby Homes, Finance and Research Division
  • Organisation and Strategy Development Division

Aegis bodies

The following bodies are under the aegis of the department:

  • the Child and Family Agency, known as Tusla, established in January 2014 under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013
  • the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI), established in November 2010 under the Adoption Act 2010
  • the Ombudsman for Children's Office (OCO), established in 2004 under the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002
  • the Oberstown Children Detention Campus, established under the Children Act 2001
  • the National Disability Authority (NDA).

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is an independent public body that accounts to the Oireachtas, with a mandate established under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014.

The department also provides the primary source of funding for Gaisce – The President's Award. Gaisce is a limited company set up under the Companies Acts.

History

The department was established under the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1956 as the Department of the Gaeltacht, an act of the 7th government of Ireland led by John A. Costello. This act provided its function as:

The name and functions of the department have changed several times by means of statutory instruments. The department responsible for the Gaeltacht is the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality has had its current title and functions .

Alteration of name and transfer of functions

DateChange
2 July 1956Establishment of the Department of the Gaeltacht
15 October 1956Transfer of Rural industry and Gaeltacht Housing from the Department of Lands
30 November 1956Transfer of Oifig na Gaeltachta agus na gCeantar gCúng from the Department of Local Government
20 January 1993Transfer of Broadcasting from the Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications
20 January 1993Transfer of Arts and Culture from the Department of the Taoiseach
20 January 1993Renamed as the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht
10 April 1995Allocation of Heritage
12 July 1997Renamed as the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
28 July 1997Transfer of Aran Islands Transport from the Department of the Taoiseach
8 April 1998Statutory statement of functions
13 December 2000Transfer of Placenames from the Department of Finance
18 June 2002Transfer of Broadcasting to the Department of Marine and Natural Resources
18 June 2002Transfer of Arts and Culture to the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation
19 June 2002Renamed as the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
25 June 2002Transfer of Community Affairs from the Department of Social and Family Affairs
10 July 2002Transfer of Heritage to the Department of the Environment and Local Government
16 December 2003Statutory statement of functions
9 July 2007Statutory statement of functions
1 June 2010Transfer of Equality, Integration, Disability and Human Rights from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
2 June 2010Renamed as the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs
1 April 2011Transfer of Equality, Integration, Disability and Human Rights to the Department of Justice and Law Reform
1 May 2011Transfer of Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Islands to the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport
1 May 2011Transfer of Social Inclusion to the Department of Social Protection
1 May 2011Transfer of the National Drugs Strategy to the Department of Health and Children
1 May 2011Transfer of Inland Waterways to the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport
1 May 2011Transfer of Community Affairs to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
11 May 2011Transfer of the Education Welfare from the Department of Education and Skills
1 June 2011Transfer of Gaeltacht Planning to the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport
2 June 2011Renamed as the Department of Children and Youth Affairs
3 June 2011Transfer of Children and Youth Affairs from the Department of Health and Children
1 October 2011Transfer of Child Care from the Department of Health
1 January 2012Transfer of Remand Centres and Children Detention Schools from the Department of Justice and Equality
14 October 2020Transfer of Youth Justice to the Department of Justice and Equality
14 October 2020Transfer of Disability, Equality, Human Rights, Integration and Reception from the Department of Justice and Equality
15 October 2020Renamed as the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
1 January 2021Transfer of Education Welfare to the Department of Education
15 December 2021Transfer of Oversight of Education Welfare to the Department of Education
1 March 2023Transfer of Specialist Community-Based Disability Services from the Department of Health
1 May 2025Transfer of Integration and Reception to the Department of Justice
1 May 2025Transfer of Youth to the Department of Education
2 May 2025Renamed as the Department of Children, Disability and Equality

References

References

  1. "Department of Children, Disability and Equality".
  2. "Secretary General of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality". Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
  3. (2 July 2025). "Who Does What". Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
  4. (2 July 2025). "Bodies under the aegis of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality". Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
  5. {{Cite ISB. (2013). (15 December 2013)
  6. (5 June 1956). "Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1956".
  7. (28 June 1956). "Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1956 (Appointed Day) Order 1956".
  8. (3 October 1956). "Gaeltacht (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1956".
  9. (30 November 1956). "Gaeltacht (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 1956".
  10. (20 January 1993). "Broadcasting (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1993".
  11. (20 January 1993). "Arts and Culture (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1993".
  12. (20 January 1993). "Gaeltacht (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1993".
  13. (10 April 1995). "Heritage Act 1995".
  14. (8 July 1997). "Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997".
  15. (28 July 1997). "Aran Islands Transport (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997".
  16. (8 April 1998). "Minister For Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Powers and Functions) Act 1998".
  17. (13 December 2000). "Place-Names (Irish Forms) (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2000".
  18. (18 June 2002). "Broadcasting (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002".
  19. (18 June 2002). "Arts and Culture (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002".
  20. (18 June 2002). "Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002".
  21. (25 June 2002). "Community Affairs (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002".
  22. (10 July 2002). "Heritage (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002".
  23. (16 December 2003). "Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Powers and Functions) Act 2003".
  24. (9 July 2007). "Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2007".
  25. (28 May 2010). "Equality, Integration, Disability and Human Rights (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2010".
  26. (18 May 2010). "Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2010".
  27. (29 March 2011). "Equality, Integration, Disability and Human Rights (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011".
  28. (5 April 2011). "Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011".
  29. (5 April 2011). "Social Inclusion (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011".
  30. (5 April 2011). "National Drugs Strategy (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011".
  31. (19 April 2011). "Inland Waterways and Waterways Ireland (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011".
  32. (19 April 2011). "Community Affairs (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011".
  33. (10 May 2011). "National Education Welfare Board (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011".
  34. (10 May 2011). "Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2011".
  35. (10 May 2011). "Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011".
  36. (10 May 2011). "Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011".
  37. (27 September 2011). "Child Care (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011".
  38. (20 December 2011). "Remand Centres and Children Detention Schools (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011".
  39. (13 October 2020). "Youth Justice (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020".
  40. (13 October 2020). "Disability, Equality, Human Rights, Integration and Reception (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020".
  41. (13 October 2020). "Children and Youth Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2020".
  42. (1 December 2020). "Education Welfare (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020".
  43. (24 November 2021). "Child and Family Agency (Amendment) Act 2021".
  44. (13 December 2022). "Specialist Community-Based Disability Services (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2022".
  45. (13 December 2022). "Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Commencement) Order 2022".
  46. (8 April 2025). "Integration and Reception (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2025".
  47. (29 April 2025). "Youth (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2025".
  48. (29 April 2025). "Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2025".
Wikipedia Source

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