Minister for Posts and Telegraphs

The Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 defined the department's role:[1] The Department of Posts and Telegraphs which shall comprise the administration and business generally of public services in connection with posts, telegraphs, and telephones, and all powers, duties and functions connected with the same, and shall include in particular the business, powers, duties and functions of the branches and officers of the public services specified in the Eighth Part of the Schedule to this Act, and of which Department the head shall be, and shall be styled, an t-Aire Puist agus Telegrafa or (in English) the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.The Minister for Posts and Telegraphs was responsible for Ireland's postal and telecommunications services from 1924 to 1984.

The reform of the sector and department began in 1978 with the creation of the Posts and Telegraphs Review Group.

This led, following the delivery of a report in 1979, to the creation of the ad hoc Interim Board for Posts (An Bord Poist), chaired by Feargal Quinn, and the Interim Board for Telecommunications (An Bord Telecom), chaired by Michael Smurfit.

These two boards continued to sit until An Post and Telecom Éireann, respectively, replaced them in 1984 as state-sponsored agencies.

This was one of the largest reorganisations of the civil service in modern times, the old department having had a workforce of about 30,000 prior to dissolution.

The original logo of the department, including the Tironian et symbol, is still often seen on early postboxes and other older property.
Pre-1984 manhole cover showing the P ⁊ T logo
This later and final version of the logo of the department was most commonly associated with the orange and white postal vans.