Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

The Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection is a junior ministerial post in the Department of Social Protection of the Government of Ireland who may perform functions delegated by the Minister for Social Protection. A Minister of State does not hold cabinet rank.

There are currently two Ministers of State:
 * Joe O'Brien, TD – Minister of State with special responsibility for Community development and charities; and
 * Emer Higgins, TD – Minister of State with special responsibility for Business, Employment and Retail

List of parliamentary secretaries
{| class="wikitable"
 * colspan=6|
 * colspan=6|

Department of Social Welfare 1951–1977
!Name !colspan=2|Term of office !colspan=2|Party !Government
 * rowspan=2|Michael Kennedy
 * 19 June 1951
 * 2 June 1954
 * 6th
 * 21 March 1957
 * 11 November 1961
 * 8th • 9th
 * Johnny Geoghegan
 * 9 July 1969
 * 14 March 1973
 * 13th
 * Frank Cluskey
 * 14 March 1973
 * 5 July 1977
 * 14th
 * }
 * Frank Cluskey
 * 14 March 1973
 * 5 July 1977
 * 14th
 * }
 * 14th
 * }

List of ministers of state
{| class="wikitable"
 * colspan=7|
 * colspan=7|

Department of Social Welfare 1980–1997
!Name !colspan=2|Term of office !colspan=2|Party !Responsibilities !Government
 * Tom Nolan
 * 25 March 1980
 * 17 December 1980
 * rowspan=2|16th
 * Thomas Hussey
 * 17 December 1980
 * 30 June 1981
 * Mary Flaherty
 * 30 June 1981
 * 9 March 1982
 * Poverty and the Family
 * 17th
 * Denis Gallagher
 * 23 March 1982
 * 27 October 1982
 * Social Welfare Claims
 * rowspan=2|18th
 * Rory O'Hanlon
 * 28 October 1982
 * 14 December 1982
 * Social Welfare Claims
 * Fergus O'Brien
 * 16 December 1982
 * 15 December 1983
 * Social Welfare Information
 * rowspan=3|19th
 * John Donnellan
 * 15 December 1983
 * 10 March 1987
 * Social Welfare Information
 * Séamus Pattison
 * 15 December 1983
 * 20 January 1987
 * Social Welfare Administration
 * Joan Burton
 * 14 January 1993
 * 15 December 1994
 * EC Poverty Plans and Tax and Social Welfare Codes
 * 23rd
 * Bernard Durkan
 * 20 December 1994
 * 26 June 1997
 * 24th
 * colspan=7|
 * Social Welfare Information
 * Séamus Pattison
 * 15 December 1983
 * 20 January 1987
 * Social Welfare Administration
 * Joan Burton
 * 14 January 1993
 * 15 December 1994
 * EC Poverty Plans and Tax and Social Welfare Codes
 * 23rd
 * Bernard Durkan
 * 20 December 1994
 * 26 June 1997
 * 24th
 * colspan=7|
 * Bernard Durkan
 * 20 December 1994
 * 26 June 1997
 * 24th
 * colspan=7|
 * 24th
 * colspan=7|
 * colspan=7|
 * colspan=7|

Department of Social and Family Affairs 2007–2010
!Name !colspan=2|Term of office !colspan=2|Party !Responsibilities !Government
 * rowspan=2|Máire Hoctor
 * 9 July 2007
 * 7 May 2008
 * rowspan=2|Older People
 * 27th
 * 13 May 2008
 * 22 April 2009
 * rowspan=2|28th
 * Áine Brady
 * 22 April 2009
 * 9 March 2011
 * Older People and Health Promotion
 * colspan=7|
 * 22 April 2009
 * 9 March 2011
 * Older People and Health Promotion
 * colspan=7|
 * colspan=7|
 * colspan=7|

Department of Social Protection 2010–2017
!Name !colspan=2|Term of office !colspan=2|Party !Responsibilities !Government
 * Kevin Humphreys
 * 15 July 2014
 * 6 May 2016
 * Employment, Community and Social Support
 * 29th
 * Finian McGrath
 * 6 May 2016
 * 14 June 2017
 * Disability Issues
 * 30th
 * colspan=7|
 * Disability Issues
 * 30th
 * colspan=7|
 * colspan=7|
 * colspan=7|

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection 2017–2020
!Name !colspan=2|Term of office !colspan=2|Party !Responsibilities !Government
 * Finian McGrath
 * 20 June 2017
 * 27 June 2020
 * Disability Issues
 * rowspan=2|31st
 * Pat Breen
 * 20 June 2017
 * 27 June 2020
 * Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection
 * colspan=7|
 * 27 June 2020
 * Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection
 * colspan=7|
 * colspan=7|
 * colspan=7|

Department of Social Protection 2020–present
!Name !colspan=2|Term of office !colspan=2|Party !Responsibilities !Government
 * Damien English
 * 19 July 2020
 * 12 January 2023
 * Employment Affairs and Retail Business
 * rowspan=2|32nd • 33rd
 * Neale Richmond
 * 13 January 2023
 * 10 April 2024
 * Employment Affairs and Retail Business
 * Joe O'Brien
 * 19 July 2020
 * Incumbent
 * Community Development and Charities
 * 32nd • 33rd • 34th
 * Emer Higgins
 * 10 April 2024
 * Incumbent
 * Business, Employment and Retail
 * 34th
 * }
 * Emer Higgins
 * 10 April 2024
 * Incumbent
 * Business, Employment and Retail
 * 34th
 * }
 * 34th
 * }