Department of Health
Introduction
The health service in Ireland is overseen by the:
- Government
- Minister for Health, and
- Department of Health
The Department of Health:
- Supports the Minister and Ministers of State to develop and implement policy for the health service.
- Monitors the performance of health services.
Health services are delivered by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
You can find information, press releases and publications on the Department of Health website.
Organisation of the Department of Health
The Minister for Health has overall constitutional and political responsibility for the Department.
Since January 2025, there are 3 Ministers of State assigned to the Department with responsibility for:
- Public health, wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy
- Mental health
- Older people
Secretary General of the Department of Health
The Department of Health is managed administratively by a Secretary General from the Civil Service.
The Secretary is the "accounting officer" for the department and is responsible to the Dáil. They must ensure that the money allocated to the Department of Health is spent in the proper manner.
Chief Medical Officer
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) provides leadership and expert medical advice to the:
- Minister
- Ministers of State
- Department of Health, and
- Regulatory and professional organisations
The Chief Medical Officer also provides leadership to
- Promote and plan for patient safety and quality health care through clinical guidelines, audit and guidance.
- Respond to pandemics and public health emergencies.
- Develop strategy on public health reform.
- Develop public health policy on matters such as obesity, food safety and environmental health issues.
- Develop and coordinate the Healthy Ireland policy.
The Department has 12 divisions. Each may have a different purpose or policy. Each division has a number of units with specific areas of responsibility.
You can read more about divisions and about the Department of Health.
Further information
You can read more about