Minister for Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands


The Minister for Social Protection is the senior minister at the Department of Social Protection in the Government of Ireland.
The current Minister for Social Protection is Heather Humphreys. She is also Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands.

Overview

The Department was formed in 1947 as the Department of Social Welfare. Its present title dates from 2017. 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

!No.
!Name
!colspan="2"|Term of office
!colspan="2"|Party

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs 1997–2002

!No.
!Name
!colspan="2"|Term of office
!colspan="2"|Party

Minister for Social and Family Affairs 2002–2010

!No.
!Name
!colspan="2"|Term of office
!colspan="2"|Party

Minister for Social Protection 2010–2017

!No.
!Name
!colspan="2"|Term of office
!colspan="2"|Party

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection 2017–2020

!No.
!Name
!colspan="2"|Term of office
!colspan="2"|Party