The Minister for Social Protection (Irish: An tAire Cosanta Sóisialta) is a senior minister in the Government of Ireland and leads the Department of Social Protection.

The current Minister for Social Protection is Dara Calleary.

The position was created in 1947 as the Minister for Social Welfare.

[2] The department formulates appropriate social protection policies and administers and manages the delivery of statutory and non-statutory schemes and services.

It is also responsible for the delivery of a range of social insurance and social assistance schemes including provision for unemployment, illness, maternity, caring, widowhood, retirement and old age.