Department of Health (Ireland)

The Department of Health (Irish: An Roinn Sláinte) 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.

Department of Health

Department of Health, Dublin
Department overview
Formed22 January 1947
JurisdictionIreland
HeadquartersMiesian Plaza,
50–58 Lwr Baggot St,
Dublin 2,
D02 XW14
Minister responsible
Department executive
WebsiteDepartment of Health

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".[1]

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:

History

The department was created by the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) 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
Date Change
2 June 1924 Establishment of the Department of Local Government and Public Health[3]
22 January 1947 Establishment of the Department of Health [4]
18 March 1947 Transfer of Health from the Department for Local Government and Public Health [5]
12 July 1997 Renamed as the Department of Health and Children [6]
3 June 2011 Transfer of Office of Children to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs [7]
4 June 2011 Renamed as the Department of Health [8]
1 October 2011 Transfer of Child Care to Department of Children and Youth Affairs [9]

Structure

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

  • Formulating policy underpinned by an evidence-based approach and providing direction on national health priorities ensuring that quality and value for money are enhanced through the implementation of an evidence-based approach underpinned by monitoring and evaluation.
  • Protecting the interests of patients and consumers and supporting practitioners and professionals to practice to the highest standards by providing a prudent and appropriate regulatory framework.
  • Providing effective stewardship over health resources by demanding accountability for achieving outcomes including financial, managerial and clinical accountability, and by providing the frameworks, including enhanced service planning at national level to improve the overall governance of the health system.
  • Fulfilling the state's obligations in relation to the EU, WHO, Council of Europe and other international bodies and the continued implementation of the co-operation agenda decided by the North-South Ministerial Council.

See also

References
  1. Bowers, Fergal (1 January 2003). "Heath – review of the year". IrishHealth.com.
  2. "Secretary General of the Department of Health". Department of Health. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  3. "Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 (Commencement) Order 1924". Irish Statute Book. 30 May 1924. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  4. "Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1946 (Section 2) (Commencement) Order 1947". Irish Statute Book. 21 January 1947. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  5. "Health (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1947". Irish Statute Book. 11 March 1947. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  6. "Health (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997". Irish Statute Book. 8 July 1997. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  7. "Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011". Irish Statute Book. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  8. "Health and Children (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011". Irish Statute Book. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  9. "Child Care (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011". Irish Statute Book. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
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