Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport

The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport (Irish: An tAire Cultúir, Cumarsáide agus Spóirt) is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport
Incumbent Patrick O'Donovan since 23 January 2025
Department of Culture, Communications and Sport
Type	Culture minister Sports minister
Status	Cabinet minister
Member of	Government of Ireland Council of the European Union North/South Ministerial Council Dáil Éireann
Reports to	Taoiseach
Seat	Dublin, Ireland
Nominator	Taoiseach
Appointer	President of Ireland (on the advice of the Taoiseach)
Inaugural holder	Martin O'Donoghue as Minister for Economic Planning and Development
Formation	8 July 1977
Salary	€210,750 (2025) (including €115,953 TD salary)[1]
Website	Official website

The minister since January 2025^[update] is Patrick O'Donovan, TD. He is assisted by one minister of state:

• Charlie McConalogue, TD – Minister of State for sport and postal policy

List of office-holders

The Minister for Economic Planning and Development was created by the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1977.^[2] The title and functions of the position have changed several times since then.

Minister for Economic Planning and Development 1977–1980
Name	Term of office		Party		Government(s)
Martin O'Donoghue[a]	8 July 1977	11 December 1979		Fianna Fáil	15th
Michael O'Kennedy	12 December 1979	21 January 1980		Fianna Fáil	16th
Minister for Energy 1980–1981
Name	Term of office		Party		Government(s)
Michael O'Kennedy	21 January 1980	22 January 1980		Fianna Fáil	16th
George Colley	22 January 1980	30 June 1981		Fianna Fáil	16th
Minister for Industry and Energy 1981–1983
Name	Term of office		Party		Government(s)
Michael O'Leary	30 June 1981	9 March 1982		Labour	17th
Albert Reynolds (1st time)	9 March 1982	14 December 1982		Fianna Fáil	18th
John Bruton	14 December 1982	13 December 1983		Fine Gael	19th
Minister for Energy 1983–1993
Name	Term of office		Party		Government(s)
Dick Spring	13 December 1983	20 January 1987		Labour	19th
Michael Noonan	20 January 1987	10 March 1987		Fine Gael	19th
Ray Burke	10 March 1987	24 November 1988		Fianna Fáil	20th
Michael Smith	24 November 1988	12 July 1989		Fianna Fáil	20th
Bobby Molloy	12 July 1989	4 November 1992		Progressive Democrats	21st • 22nd
Albert Reynolds (2nd time)	4 November 1992	12 January 1993		Fianna Fáil	22nd
Brian Cowen	12 January 1993	20 January 1993		Fianna Fáil	23rd
Minister for Tourism and Trade 1993–1997
Name	Term of office		Party		Government(s)
Brian Cowen	20 January 1993	22 January 1993		Fianna Fáil	23rd
Charlie McCreevy	22 January 1993	15 December 1994		Fianna Fáil	23rd
Enda Kenny	15 December 1994	26 June 1997		Fine Gael	24th
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation 1997–2002
Name	Term of office		Party		Government(s)
Jim McDaid	26 June 1997	6 June 2002		Fianna Fáil	25th
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism 2002–2010
Name	Term of office		Party		Government(s)
John O'Donoghue	6 June 2002	14 June 2007		Fianna Fáil	26th
Séamus Brennan	14 June 2007	7 May 2008		Fianna Fáil	27th
Martin Cullen	7 May 2008	23 March 2010		Fianna Fáil	28th
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport 2010–2011
Name	Term of office		Party		Government(s)
Mary Hanafin	23 March 2010	9 March 2011		Fianna Fáil	28th
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 2011–2016
Name	Term of office		Party		Government(s)
Jimmy Deenihan	9 March 2011	11 July 2014		Fine Gael	29th
Heather Humphreys	11 July 2014	6 May 2016		Fine Gael	29th
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 2016–2017
Name	Term of office		Party		Government(s)
Heather Humphreys	6 May 2016	14 June 2017		Fine Gael	30th
Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 2017–2020
Name	Term of office		Party		Government(s)
Heather Humphreys	14 June 2017	30 November 2017		Fine Gael	31st
Josepha Madigan	30 November 2017	27 June 2020		Fine Gael	31st
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media 2020–2025
Name	Term of office		Party		Government(s)
Catherine Martin	27 June 2020	23 January 2025		Green	32nd • 33rd • 34th
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport 2025–present
Name	Term of office		Party		Government(s)
Patrick O'Donovan	23 January 2025	Incumbent		Fine Gael	35th

Notes

1. O'Donoghue was a minister without portfolio from 8 July to 13 December 1977 before the department was formally established.