Department of Children, Disability and Equality

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.

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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, established in November 2010 under the Adoption Act 2010
the Ombudsman for Children's Office, 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.

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 as of 2025 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 as of 2025.