Department of Health (Ireland)


The Department of Health is a department of the Government of Ireland. The department's mission is to "support, protect and empower individuals, families and their communities to achieve their full health potential by putting health at the centre of public policy and by leading the development of high quality, equitable and efficient health and personal social services." The department is led by the Minister for Health, who is assisted by three Ministers of State.
The department attracts much controversy particularly due to the HSE. Brian Cowen, the former Taoiseach referred to it as "Angola" clarifying "just when you've cleared one land mine another goes off".

Departmental team

The official headquarters and ministerial offices of the department are in Miesian Plaza, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2. The departmental team consists of the following:
The department was created by the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1946. This took effect in 1947 with James Ryan as the first Minister. Prior to this, the Department for Local Government and Public Health was responsible for Health.

Alteration of name and transfer of functions

Structure

The role of the department and departmental team is to support the minister and the democratic process by: