Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (An Roinn Leanaí, Comhionannais, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige) is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Departmental team
The official headquarters and ministerial offices of the department are on Baggot Street, Dublin. The departmental team consists of the following:
 * Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Roderic O'Gorman, TD
 * Minister of State for Disability: Anne Rabbitte, TD
 * Minister of State for Integration: Joe O'Brien, TD
 * Secretary General of the Department: Kevin McCarthy

Divisions

 * Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Division
 * Justice, International Protection and Equality
 * Child Policy and Tusla Governance Division
 * Corporate and Business Support Division
 * Youth Justice, Adoption, Youth and Participation Division

The Child and Family Agency, known as Tusla, is an independent agency established on 1 January 2014 and answerable to the department.

History
The department was created by the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1956 as the Department of the Gaeltacht, an act of the 7th Government of Ireland led by John A. Costello. This act provided its function as: "to promote the cultural, social and economic welfare of the Gaeltacht; to encourage the preservation and extension of the use of Irish as a vernacular language; and, to such extent as may be necessary or appropriate, to consult and advise with other Departments of State in respect of services administered by such Departments which affect the cultural, social or economic welfare of the Gaeltacht or which concern the national aim of restoring the Irish language."

Over the years the name and functions of the department have changed several times by means of statutory instruments. The department currently responsible for the Gaeltacht is the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has had its current title and functions since 2020.