Minister for Supplies facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Minister for Supplies
Department of Supplies
Member of	Cabinet Oireachtas
Reports to	Taoiseach
Nominator	Taoiseach
Appointer	President of Ireland on the nomination of the Taoiseach
Formation	8 September 1939
First holder	Seán Lemass
Final holder	Seán Lemass
Abolished	1 August 1945

The Minister for Supplies (which in Irish is An tAire Soláthairtí) was a special government job in Ireland. It was created to help Ireland during World War II. In Ireland, this time was often called "the Emergency."

This important role was set up by a new law in 1939. Even though the law was passed in December, the job officially started earlier, in September 1939.

What was the Minister for Supplies?

This government role was all about making sure people in Ireland had enough important things. This included food, fuel, and other supplies. The Minister for Supplies was in charge of how these items were made, shared out, and how much they cost.

Why was this job created?

During World War II, it was hard for countries to get supplies. Ships were attacked, and many goods became scarce. Ireland needed a way to manage its resources carefully. The Minister for Supplies made sure that everyone had fair access to what they needed.

What did the Minister do?

The Minister for Supplies had a big job. They controlled how much of certain goods could be produced. They also decided how these goods would be shared among people. This often meant introducing rationing, where each person could only buy a certain amount of an item.

Historians have different ideas about how well this worked. Some say that Seán Lemass, who held this job, was very good at collecting and storing important goods. Others believe that rationing started too late. This meant that sometimes, people bought and sold things illegally on a "black market." This made it harder for everyone to get what they needed fairly.

Who was Seán Lemass?

Seán Lemass was the only person to hold the job of Minister for Supplies. He was a very important politician in Ireland. He started in this role on 8 September 1939.

From 1941, he also held another important job. He was the Minister for Industry and Commerce at the same time. He managed both roles until the Minister for Supplies job ended.

When did the job end?

The job of Minister for Supplies ended on 1 August 1945. This was soon after World War II finished. After this, the duties of the Minister for Supplies were moved to the Minister for Industry and Commerce.

Related topics

• Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures
• Irish neutrality during World War II – How Ireland stayed neutral
• Irish Mercantile Marine during World War II – Ireland's merchant ships during the war