Minister for Health (Ireland) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Minister for Health
Incumbent Stephen Donnelly since 27 June 2020
Department of Health
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	James Ryan
Formation	22 January 1947

The Minister for Health (Irish: An tAire Sláinte) is a very important government minister in Ireland. This person leads the Department of Health. Their main job is to look after healthcare and related services for everyone in Ireland.

The current Minister for Health is Stephen Donnelly, who is also a TD (a member of the Irish Parliament). He gets help from other ministers:

• Mary Butler, TD – who is the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People.
• Colm Burke, TD – who is the Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy.

History of the Health Minister Role

Before 1947, healthcare was part of another minister's job. This was the Minister for Local Government and Public Health. But on January 22, 1947, a new job was created: the Minister for Health. This new minister was given full control over healthcare in Ireland. Sometimes, in the past, the Minister for Health also looked after social welfare.

Being the Minister for Health can be a really tough job. Some people even call it a "poisoned chalice." This means it's a role that often comes with big challenges. Ministers in this role have faced many difficult situations. These include dealing with public concerns about health services. They also handle issues like strikes, staff shortages, and long waiting times. These problems often get a lot of public attention.

What the Minister for Health Does

The Minister for Health has many important duties. They create and check the rules and plans for health services. Here are some of the main areas they work on:

Continuing Care Services

This part of the job focuses on helping people who need ongoing support.

• They look after services for adults who are homeless.
• They also help people with disabilities.
• Another key area is caring for older people and providing palliative care. Palliative care helps people with serious illnesses feel more comfortable.

Managing Money for Health

This section deals with how money is used in healthcare.

• They handle health insurance plans.
• They also plan for new hospitals and improve existing ones.
• They work on Public-Private Partnerships. These are projects where the government and private companies work together.

Staff and Training

This area is about the people who work in healthcare.

• They set rules for nursing.
• They also manage staff and help them develop their skills.

Primary Care Services

Primary care is the first level of healthcare people usually get.

• This includes community health services. These are things like child health check-ups and dental services.
• It also covers general medical services, like visiting your family doctor.

Hospital Services

This part of the job focuses on bigger medical services, usually in hospitals.

• They manage policies related to blood services.
• They also oversee all general hospital services.

Planning and Support

This section deals with the overall strategy and running of the department.

• It includes corporate services, which are like the department's internal operations.
• They also work on health promotion, encouraging people to live healthier lives.
• They create new laws and rules for health.

List of Office-holders

     Denotes acting Minister