Minister for Social Protection

The Minister for Social Protection is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of [Social Protection].
The Minister for Social Protection as of 2025 is Dara Calleary. He is also Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

WWW Official Site

Overview

The position was created in 1947 as the Minister for Social Welfare. Its present title dates from 2020. The department formulates appropriate social protection policies and administers and manages the delivery of statutory and non-statutory schemes and services. It is also responsible for the delivery of a range of social insurance and social assistance schemes including provision for unemployment, illness, maternity, caring, widowhood, retirement and old age.

List of office-holders

Minister for Social Welfare 1947–1997

!Name
!colspan="2"|Term of office
!colspan="2"|Party
!Government

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs 1997–2002

!Name
!colspan="2"|Term of office
!colspan="2"|Party
!Government

Minister for Social and Family Affairs 2002–2010

!Name
!colspan="2"|Term of office
!colspan="2"|Party
!Government

Minister for Social Protection 2010–2017

!Name
!colspan="2"|Term of office
!colspan="2"|Party
!Government

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection 2017–2020

!Name
!colspan="2"|Term of office
!colspan="2"|Party
!Government

Minister for Social Protection 2020–present

!Name
!colspan="2"|Term of office
!colspan="2"|Party
!Government