Research Overview

One of the NCSE’s statutory roles is to carry out research in special education to provide an evidence base to support its work. Research activities assist in the development of policy advice on special education matters and contribute to identifying and disseminating to schools, parents and other appropriate stakeholders, information relating to best practice concerning the education of children with special education needs.

A Head of Research and Development and a Research Officer comprise the research staff. The Council have agreed an annual research programme since 2008 and a Research and Communications Committee, a subcommittee of the Council, guide and support the research work. Members of the Committee include:

  • Dr. Seamus Hegarty (Chairperson), Editor of the European Journal of Special Needs Education and Chairperson of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement.
  • Mr. Don Mahon, Assistant Chief Inspector with the Department of Education and Science.
  • Mr. Tom O’ Sullivan, Assistant General Secretary of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation.
  • Dr. Anne Lodge, Principal of the Church of Ireland College of Education.
  • Ms. Julie O'Leary, graduate of UCC and currently a post graduate student in NUI Galway.

In addition to managing the NCSE’s research programme, research staff have also established key initiatives such as the development of an Inclusive Framework and self reflection template to help schools assess their levels of inclusiveness. A multi agency advisory group representative of education and other stakeholders oversee the development of this Framework and template. Research staff also represent the NCSE on various national and international groups such as the Higher Education Authority’s National Office for Equity of Access to Higher Education Advisory Group; the OECD’s Group of National Experts on Special Needs Education; the Department of Education and Science’s Special Needs Assistant Value for Money and Policy Review Steering Group and many more.

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