Minister for Education (Ireland) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Minister for Education
Incumbent Norma Foley since 27 June 2020
Department of Education
Member of	Government of Ireland Council of the European Union Dáil Éireann
Reports to	Taoiseach
Seat	Dublin, Ireland
Appointer	President of Ireland on the nomination of the Taoiseach
Inaugural holder	John J. O'Kelly as Minister for Irish
Formation	29 June 1920

The Minister for Education (which is An tAire Oideachais in Irish) is a very important person in the Government of Ireland. This minister leads the Department of Education. Their main job is to make sure that education in Ireland works well for everyone.

The current Minister for Education is Norma Foley, who is also a TD (a member of the Irish Parliament).

She gets help from other ministers:

• Hildegarde Naughton, TD – She is the Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion. This means she focuses on education for students with special needs.
• Thomas Byrne, TD – He is the Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education. He helps with sports and physical activity in schools.

What the Minister for Education Does

The Minister for Education has many important tasks related to education in the Republic of Ireland. They help plan how education should work across the country. They also make sure that schools and colleges offer good quality learning.

The Department of Education, led by the Minister, aims to:

• Make sure education is fair and open to everyone. This is called promoting equity and inclusion.
• Encourage people to keep learning throughout their lives. This is known as lifelong learning.
• Plan education that helps people with their personal lives, culture, and jobs.

Working with Other Education Groups

Some of the Minister's jobs are now handled by other special groups. For example, the Higher Education Authority helps with universities and colleges. The National Qualifications Authority looks after school and college qualifications. The State Examinations Commission runs exams like the Leaving Cert.

Irish universities and colleges mostly manage themselves. The government's role is mainly to set overall rules and collect information.

How the Role Started

The idea for a Minister for Education began a long time ago.

From Irish Language to Education

In 1919, a group called the Gaelic League suggested a new role. They wanted a minister to promote the Irish language. So, on 29 June 1920, John J. O'Kelly was chosen as the Minister for Irish. His job was to help more people use the Irish language.

In August 1921, the President, Éamon de Valera, thought this job should be bigger. He said the minister should handle all education, not just Irish. The Dáil (Irish Parliament) agreed. The next day, John J. O'Kelly became the Minister for Education. He kept his old duties but now had many more.

The role became official in 1924. This happened under a law called the Ministers and Secretaries Act.

Ministers for Education Over Time

This section shows who has held the role of Minister for Education. Sometimes, a minister might be "acting" if the main minister is away.

     Denotes acting Minister