Minister for Transport (Ireland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Minister for Transport |
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.jpg) Darragh O'Brien since 23 January 2025 |
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| Department of Transport | |
| Member of | |
| Reports to | Taoiseach |
| Seat | Dublin, Ireland |
| Nominator | Taoiseach |
| Appointer | President of Ireland
(on the advice of the Taoiseach)
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| Inaugural holder | Erskine Childers as Minister for Transport and Power in 1959 Richie Ryan as Minister for the Public Service in 1973 |
| Formation | 1 November 1973 |
| Salary | €210,750 (2025) (including €115,953 TD salary) |
The Minister for Transport (called An tAire Iompair in Irish) is a very important job in the Government of Ireland. This person leads the Department of Transport, which is like a big team that helps manage how people and goods move around Ireland.
The person who holds this job right now is Darragh O'Brien. He is also a TD, which means he is a member of the Irish Parliament. Mr. O'Brien is also in charge of climate, energy, and the environment.
He gets help from two other ministers:
- Seán Canney, TD, who helps with international and road transport.
- Jerry Buttimer, TD, who helps with transport in rural areas.
Contents
What the Minister for Transport Does
The Minister and the Department of Transport work together to create a plan for all kinds of travel in Ireland. This plan is called an integrated transport policy. It means they try to make sure all parts of transport, like roads, trains, and planes, work well together.
Making Travel Easier
Their main goal is to make travel easier for everyone. They want to reduce traffic jams and delays. They also want to give people more choices for how they travel. This could mean more options for buses, trains, or even cycling.
Looking After Roads
One big part of the Minister's job is looking after roads. This includes:
- Building and improving national roads.
- Making sure roads are safe for everyone.
- Setting rules for how vehicles should be built and maintained.
- Managing licenses for trucks and other large vehicles.
- Making sure people get proper training and tests to drive.
Managing Air Travel
The department also handles everything to do with flying. They make sure that all aviation rules in Ireland are as good as the best in the world. They also help make sure there are enough airports and that flying is fair and competitive for airlines.
Keeping Our Seas Safe
For travel by sea, the Minister and department are responsible for:
- Making sure ships and boats are safe and secure.
- Being ready to help in emergencies at sea.
- Protecting the ocean environment from pollution.
- Managing ports and rules for shipping.
History of the Transport Minister Role
The job of Minister for Transport has changed names and responsibilities many times over the years. It started as the Department of Transport and Power in 1959. The very first person to hold a similar role was Erskine Hamilton Childers.
Over time, the department's name changed to include things like Tourism, Communications, Energy, and Public Enterprise. This shows how different parts of the government's work are connected. For example, tourism often relies on good transport links.
In 1984, the Department of Transport was actually closed for a while, and its jobs were moved to another department. But later, in 1987, the role of Minister for Transport came back, sometimes combined with other areas like tourism.
Since September 2020, the role has been known simply as the Minister for Transport again. Darragh O'Brien became the Minister for Transport on January 23, 2025.
