Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Irish: An tAire Forbartha Tuaithe, Pobail agus Gaeltachta) is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
Incumbent Dara Calleary since 23 January 2025
Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
Type	Social affairs minister
Status	Cabinet minister
Member of	Government of Ireland Council of the European Union Dáil Éireann
Reports to	Taoiseach
Seat	Dublin, Ireland
Nominator	Taoiseach
Appointer	President of Ireland (on the advice of the Taoiseach)
Inaugural holder	Michael Ring
Formation	27 June 2020
Salary	€210,750 (2025)[1] (including €115,953 TD salary)[2]
Website	Official website

The current Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht is Dara Calleary, TD. He is also Minister for Social Protection.

He is assisted by one Minister of State:

• Jerry Buttimer, TD – Minister of State for community development, charities, Gaeltacht and the islands:

List of officeholders

Minister for Rural and Community Development 2017–2025
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Michael Ring	14 June 2017[a]	27 June 2020		Fine Gael	31st
Heather Humphreys	27 June 2020	23 January 2025		Fine Gael	32nd • 33rd • 34th
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht 2025–present
Name	Term of office		Party		Government
Dara Calleary	23 January 2025	Incumbent		Fianna Fáil	35th

Notes

1. Ring was a minister without portfolio from 14 June to 19 July 2017 before the department was formally established.