Members of the National Council for Special Education
2010 - 2012
The Chairperson and members of the Council were appointed by the Minister for Education and Skills from among persons who have a special interest in or knowledge relating to the education of children with disabilities.
Sydney Blain, Chairperson
Mr Blain is a former Principal of the Church of Ireland College of Education.
Dr. Seamus Hegarty
Dr Hegarty is Chairperson of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and a former Director of the National Foundation for Education Research in England and Wales.
Sr Maighread Ní Ghallchobhair
Sr Maighread is a former Principal of Benincasa School for children with severe emotional/behavioural difficulties.
Tom O'Sullivan
Mr O'Sullivan is the Assistant General Secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation and former Principal of St Senan's Boys National School, Limerick.
Don Mahon
Mr Mahon is an Assistant Chief Inspector in the Department of Education and Skills.
Dr. Anne Lodge
Dr Lodge is the Principal of the Church of Ireland College of Education.
Joan Russell
Ms Russell is Chief Executive Officer (Acting) for Co. Cork VEC.
Pat Kinsella
Mr Kinsella is Principal of Colaiste Choilm, Ballicollig, Co. Cork.
Julie O'Leary
Ms O'Leary is a graduate of UCC and currently a post graduate student in NUI Galway.
Siobhan Barron
Ms Barron is Director of the National Disability Authority.
Mick Coughlan
Mr Coughlan is Principal Clinical Psychologist of the National Learning Network.
James O'Grady
Mr O'Grady is former head of Disability Services with the H.S.E. and Disability Policy Advisor to the Office of the Minister for Mental Health and Disability at the Department of Health.
Maureen Costello
Ms Costello is the Director of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) in the Department of Education and Skills. She is a registered Educational Psychologist and qualified primary, post-primary and special education teacher. Before joining NEPS in 1998, Maureen worked as a mainstream teacher, special class teacher and principal teacher in primary schools.
Consultative Forum
Under Section 22 of the EPSEN Act the Council is required to establish a formal national Consultative Forum representative of all the stakeholders to consult directly on any matters related to carrying out its functions. The 2010-2012 Consultative Forum has been established and membership is as follows:
Ms. Sally Maguire
ASTI Representative
Ms. Bernie Ruane
TUI Representative
Mr. Feargal Brougham
Irish National Teachers' Organisation representative
Mr. Edward Byrne
NABMSE Representative
Ms. Antoinette NicGearailt
Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools representative
Mr. Sean Burke
IVEA Representative
Mr. Rory O'Sullivan
NAPD Representative
Mr. Pat Goff
IPPN Representative
Mr. Robert Jones
Disability Federation of Ireland representative
Ms. Katherine O'Leary
Inclusion Ireland Representative
Ms. Patricia McLarty
Heath Service Executive representative
Ms. Marie Therese Kilmartin
JMB Representative
Mr. Alan Sayles
Ministerial Representative
Ms. Paula Long
Ministerial Representative
Mr. Terry Reynolds
Ministerial Representative
Mr. Sean Balfe
CPSMA Representative
Professor Desmond Swan
Psychological Society of Ireland
Ms. Mary Van Lieshout
National Disability Authority
Ms. Mary Dunne
People with Disabilities in Ireland
Ms. Sarah Parlane
National Parents Council Primary
NCSE Organisation Chart
Organisational Structure