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.
Alteration of name and transfer of functions
Date
Change
2 July 1956
Establishment of the Department of the Gaeltacht[5]
^Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1956, s. 3: The Department of the Gaeltacht (No. 21 of 1956, s. 3). Enacted on 5 June 1956. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^Gaeltacht (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1956 (S.I. No. 257 of 1956). Signed on 3 October 1956. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^Gaeltacht (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 1956 (S.I. No. 304 of 1956). Signed on 30 November 1956. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 25 September 2024.
^Broadcasting (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1993 (S.I. No. 13 of 1993). Signed on 20 January 1993. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 18 July 2020.
^Arts and Culture (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1993 (S.I. No. 21 of 1993). Signed on 20 January 1993. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 306 of 1997). Signed on 8 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^Aran Islands Transport (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 331 of 1997). Signed on 28 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^Minister For Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Powers and Functions) Act 1998 (No. 7 of 1998). Enacted on 8 April 1998. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 3 October 2020.
^Place-Names (Irish Forms) (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2000 (S.I. No. 413 of 2000). Signed on 13 December 2000. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 January 2022.
^Broadcasting (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 299 of 2002). Signed on 18 June 2002. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 18 July 2020.
^Arts and Culture (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 302 of 2002). Signed on 18 June 2002. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 308 of 2002). Signed on 18 June 2002. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^Community Affairs (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 327 of 2002). Signed on 25 June 2002. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^Heritage (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 356 of 2002). Signed on 10 July 2002. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 15 December 2020.
^Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Powers and Functions) Act 2003 (No. 39 of 2003). Enacted on 16 December 2003. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 3 October 2020.
^Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2007 (No. 32 of 2007). Enacted on 9 July 2007. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 3 October 2020.
^Equality, Integration, Disability and Human Rights (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 217 of 2010). Signed on 28 May 2010. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 215 of 2010). Signed on 18 May 2010. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^Equality, Integration, Disability and Human Rights (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 139 of 2011). Signed on 29 March 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 164 of 2011). Signed on 5 April 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^Social Inclusion (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 165 of 2011). Signed on 5 April 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^National Drugs Strategy (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 166 of 2011). Signed on 5 April 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 3 October 2020.
^Inland Waterways and Waterways Ireland (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 195 of 2011). Signed on 19 April 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 September 2020.
^Community Affairs (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 216 of 2011). Signed on 19 April 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^National Education Welfare Board (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 215 of 2011). Signed on 10 May 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 3 October 2020.
^Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 164 of 2011). Signed on 10 May 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 214 of 2011). Signed on 10 May 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 218 of 2011). Signed on 10 May 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^Child Care (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 488 of 2011). Signed on 27 September 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^Remand Centres and Children Detention Schools (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 668 of 2011). Signed on 20 December 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 27 September 2019.
^Youth Justice (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 435 of 2020). Signed on 13 October 2020. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 16 October 2020.
^Disability, Equality, Human Rights, Integration and Reception (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 436 of 2020). Signed on 13 October 2020. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 16 October 2020.
^Children and Youth Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 437 of 2020). Signed on 13 October 2020. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 16 October 2020.
^Education Welfare (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 587 of 2020). Signed on 1 December 2020. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 15 December 2020.
^Specialist Community-Based Disability Services (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2022 (S.I. No. 688 of 2022). Signed on 13 December 2022. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 24 December 2022.