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 Date Change2 July 1956Establishment of the Department of the 15 October 1956Transfer of Rural industry and Gaeltacht Housing from the Department of Lands30 November 1956Transfer of Oifig na Gaeltachta agus na gCeantar gCúng from the Department of Local Government20 January 1993Transfer of Broadcasting from the Department of Tourism, Transport and CommunicationsTransfer of Arts and Culture from the Department of the TaoiseachRenamed as the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht10 April 1995Allocation of Heritage12 July 1997Renamed as the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands28 July 1997Transfer of Aran Islands Transport from the Department of the Taoiseach8 April 1998Statutory statement of functions13 December 2000Transfer of Placenames from the Department of Finance18 June 2002Transfer of Broadcasting to the Department of Marine and Natural ResourcesTransfer of Arts and Culture to the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation19 June 2002Renamed as the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs25 June 2002Transfer of Community Affairs from the Department of Social and Family Affairs10 July 2002Transfer of Heritage to the Department of the Environment and Local Government16 December 2003Statutory statement of functions9 July 2007Statutory statement of functions1 June 2010Transfer of Equality, Integration, Disability and Human Rights from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform2 June 2010Renamed as the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs1 April 2011Transfer of Equality, Integration, Disability and Human Rights to the Department of Justice and Law Reform1 May 2011Transfer of Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Islands to the Department of Tourism, Culture and SportTransfer of Social Inclusion to the Department of Social ProtectionTransfer of the National Drugs Strategy to the Department of Health and ChildrenTransfer of Inland Waterways to the Department of Tourism, Culture and SportTransfer of Community Affairs to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government11 May 2011Transfer of the Education Welfare from the Department of Education and Skills1 June 2011Transfer of Gaeltacht Planning to the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport2 June 2011Renamed as the Department of Children and Youth Affairs3 June 2011Transfer of Children and Youth Affairs from the Department of Health and Children1 October 2011Transfer of Child Care from the Department of Health1 January 2012Transfer of Remand Centres and Children Detention Schools from the Department of Justice and Equality14 October 2020Transfer of Youth Justice to the Department of Justice and EqualityTransfer of Disability, Equality, Human Rights, Integration and Reception from the Department of Justice and Equality15 October 2020Renamed as the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth1 January 2021Transfer of Education Welfare to the Department of Education15 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 Health1 May 2025Transfer of Integration and Reception to the Department of JusticeTransfer of Youth to the Department of Education2 May 2025Renamed as the Department of Children, Disability and Equality
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Spending by the Department