Consultative Forum
About Us
What is the Consultative Forum?
Through the Consultative Forum, the NCSE engages with experts in relevant areas such as education, inclusion, and disability about matters around special education.
The NCSE can appoint up to 17 members. In addition, three members are appointed by the Minister for Education and Youth.
The most recent appointment process took place in spring 2023 to last until December 2026.
The Forum was set up under section 22 of the Education of Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004.
About Us
Members of the Consultative Forum
The following members were appointed to the Consultative Forum in May 2023.
| Name | Current role |
|---|---|
| Anna Ní Chartúir | Special Educational Needs Coordinator, Gaeltacht Primary School |
| Brian O’Doherty | President, Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) |
| Catherine Moynihan | Research and Development Officer, Joint Managerial Body (JMB) |
| Darren Murphy | Team Leader, Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) |
| Derval McDonagh | Chief Executive Officer, Inclusion Ireland |
| Dr Finn Ó Murchú | Head of School of Education (Post-primary), Mary Immaculate College (MIC) Thurles |
| Gerry Maley | National Disability Specialist, HSE |
| Dr Joe Travers | Associate Professor in the School of Inclusive and Special Education Dublin City University |
| Katherine O’Leary | Member Board of Directors of Cope Foundation, Cork and Home Economics and Life Skills teacher |
| Marina Cusack | Special Educational Needs Coordinator in a Post-Primary School |
| Matt Melvin | Director, Catholic Primary Schools Management Association, CPSMA |
| Maureen Smith | Team Manager, NCSE |
| Miriam Colum | Lecturer in Special Educational Needs, Marino Institute of Education |
| Paddy Greally | Retired Children’s Services Manager, Brothers of Charity |
| Patricia McCarthy | Inclusion in Education and Society Research Team, Trinity College Dublin |
| Sheila Murphy | Acting Assistant General Secretary, Irish National Teacher’s Organisation (INTO) |
| Stephen Ryan | TCPID Graduate and currently employed by Ernst & Young |
| Members appointed by the Minister for Education | |
| Andrina Donovan | Assistant Principal Officer, Department of Education |
| Lisa White | Senior Inspector, Inspectorate, Department of Education |
| Pauline Kerins | Senior Psychologist, National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) |