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The Minister for Health & Children has overall constitutional and political responsibility for the Department of Health & Children, while his or her duties include the creation and assessment of policy for the health services. The Minister is assisted by two Ministers of State. Both of these are responsible for child care including children's policy, and food safety and the elderly.

The following are the main policy sections of the Department.

Primary Care Section deals with
- Community health (child health, dental services, AIDS, reproductive health)
- General medical services
Strategic Policy/Corporate Services Section deals with
- Health Strategy Legislation
- Corporate Services
- Health promotion
Continuing Care deals with
- Services for people with disabilities
- Services for homeless adults
- Services for the elderly and palliative care
Secondary Care deals with
- Blood policy
- Hospital services
Finance deals with
- Hospital planning
- Health insurance
- Public-Private Partnerships unit
Personnel Management & Development deals with
- Nursing policy
- Personnel management and development
Child Care deals with
- Child care legislation
- National Children's Office

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List of Ministers for Health & Children

From 1947-1997 the official title of the position was Minister for Health, this was occasionally coupled with the social welfare portfolio making the incumbent the Minister for Health & Social Welfare. In 1997 the official title became Minister for Health & Children.

#	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Party
1.	James Ryan (1st time)	January 22, 1947	February 18, 1948	Fianna Fáil
2.	Noel Browne	February 18, 1948	April 11, 1951	Fine Gael
3.	John A. Costello (acting)	April 12, 1951	June 13, 1951	Fine Gael
	James Ryan (2nd time)	June 13, 1951	June 2, 1954	Fianna Fáil
5.	Tom O'Higgins	June 2, 1954	March 20, 1957	Fine Gael
6.	Seán MacEntee	March 20, 1957	April 21, 1965	Fianna Fáil
7.	Donagh O'Malley	April 21, 1965	July 13, 1966	Fianna Fáil
8.	Seán Flanagan	July 13, 1966	July 2, 1969	Fianna Fáil
9.	Erskine Childers	July 2, 1969	March 14, 1973	Fianna Fáil
10.	Brendan Corish	March 14, 1973	July 5, 1977	Labour
11.	Charles Haughey	July 5, 1977	December 11, 1979	Fianna Fáil
12.	Michael Woods (1st time)	December 12, 1979	June 30, 1981	Fianna Fáil
13.	Eileen Desmond	June 30, 1981	March 9, 1982	Fine Gael
	Michael Woods (2nd time)	March 9, 1982	(December 14, 1982	Fianna Fáil
14.	Barry Desmond	December 14, 1982	January 20, 1987	Labour
15.	John Boland	January 20, 1987	March 10, 1987	Fine Gael
16.	Rory O'Hanlon	March 10, 1987	November 14, 1991	Fianna Fáil
17.	Mary O'Rourke	November 14, 1991	February 11, 1992	Fianna Fáil
18.	John O'Connell	February 11, 1992	January 12, 1993	Fianna Fáil
19.	Brendan Howlin	January 12, 1994	November 17, 1994	Labour
	Michael Woods (3rd time)	November 17, 1994	December 15, 1994	Fianna Fáil
20.	Michael Noonan	December 15, 1994	June 26, 1997	Fine Gael
21.	Brian Cowen	June 26, 1997	January 27, 2000	Fianna Fáil

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List of Ministers for Health & Children

#	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Party
	Brian Cowen	July 12, 1997	January 27, 2000	Fianna Fáil
22.	Micheál Martin	January 27, 2000	September 29, 2004	Fianna Fáil
23.	Mary Harney	September 29, 2004	(still in office)	Progressive Democrats

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List of Ministers for Health & Children

List of Ministers for Health & Children

See also