Research Reports
Research Reports
Research Reports
Reports arising from the research programme are published on our website once completed and signed off by the Council. The NCSE funds the research but responsibility for it, including any errors or omissions, remains with the authors. The views and opinions contained in such reports are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Council.
Research Reports
2025
Research Report no. 33 / 2025
The Continued Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Education of Children with Special Education Needs
Authors: Joyce Senior, Jennifer Symonds, Linda Bhreathnach, Natalie Barrow, Huichao Xie, Kate Carr-Fanning, Dympna Devine, Seaneen Sloan, Gabriela Martinez Sainz, David Hayes, Sinead Downey
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is pleased to publish this research report investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with special educational needs (SEN). This is the second of two reports on this subject. The NCSE commissioned this follow-up study to investigate the longer-term impact of school closures on the education and wellbeing of students and young people with SEN in mainstream and special schools in Ireland. We also wanted to determine how schools were continuing to respond to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research Report no. 32 / 2025
Investigating the impact of NCSE frontline services from the perspective of multiple stakeholders
Authors: Deborah Robinson, Geraldene Codina, Lisha O’Sullivan, Emer Ring, Luke Catterson, Aoife Ní Luanaigh, Adam Brett, Liam Maloy, Klaudia Matasovska, Rosemary Shepherd
The NCSE welcomes this evaluation on the impact of NCSE frontline services conducted by the University of Derby (UoD) Consortium. The purpose of the evaluation was to gain insight into how service users’ perceive NCSE frontline services as a comprehensive support package. This evaluation is based on the perspectives of multiple stakeholders who engage with NCSE services including parents/carers, school staff and students with special educational needs.
Research Report no. 31 / 2025
Paths, Tracks, Gaps and Cliffs: The Post-School Transitions of Students with Special Educational Needs
Authors: Selina McCoy, Keyu Ye and Eamonn Carroll.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is pleased to publish this research report that maps and tracks the post-school pathways of young people with special education needs (SEN). The study, undertaken by the ESRI uses a mixed methods approach alongside secondary data analysis to convey a broad picture of post-school transitions for young people with SEN. Phase one maps current sources of data about young people with SEN who leave the school system, identifies what we can learn from this data, as well as the gaps in these sources. Phase two tracks a sample of young people with special educational needs who are about to leave school, identifying what post-school options are chosen, the factors for such selections, and experiences of their transition. They are then followed up after they have left school to explore if they took their chosen pathway.
Research Reports
2024
Research – NCSE Commissioned Book
Special Education in an Independent Ireland, 1922-2022: Insights from a journey through the century
Authors: Professor Emer Ring
With learning partners: Dr Patrick F. O’Donovan, Dr Maurice Harmon and Dr Lisha O’Sullivan.
The NCSE commissioned a book to document the history and progress of special education in Ireland, covering one hundred years since the foundation of the State. The volume looks at the evolution of policies, practices and experiences of children and families since the foundation of the State and includes contributions from a range of key informants.
Research Reports
Research Studies undertaken as part of the NCSE Policy Advice Paper on Special Schools and Classes – January 2024
The NCSE has published a landmark policy advice paper on special schools and classes – see Policy Advice page for further details.
Two Research Studies are published alongside the policy advice paper:
– the Literature Review relating to policy advice on educational provision for students in special schools and special classes.
– the International Administrative Review of specialist provision for students with special educational needs.
Research Reports
2021
Research Report No. 29 / 2021
Review of Education in
Adult Day Services
Authors: RSM: Terry McAdam, Jenny Irwin, Rosalind Henry, Beth Young, Laura Brownlee, Steven Norris, June Graham, David Fleming, Patrick McCourt, Matthew McCracken and Robert Ward.
TCD: Professor Michael Shevlin, Dr Miriam Twomey, Dr Conor McGuckin, Dr Joanne Banks, Dr Norah Sweetman and Dr Mary-Ann O’Donovan.
Research Reports
2020
Research Report No. 28 / 2020
Evaluation of In-School and Early Years Therapy Support Demonstration Project
Authors: Helen Lynch, Emer Ring, Bryan Boyle, Alice Moore, Ciara O’Toole, Lisha O’Sullivan, Therese Brophy, Pauline Frizelle, Deirdre Horgan, Dan O’Sullivan
Research Reports
Pre 2020
Click the arrow next to the year to expand the list and view the reports for the selected year.
Research Reports
2019
Initial Teacher Education for Inclusion: Final Report
Research Report No. 27
Authors: Peter Hick, Aikaterini Matziari, Joseph Mintz, Finn Ó Murchú, Kevin Cahill, Kathy Hall, Catriona Curtin and Yvette Solomon
Research Reports
2018
Initial Teacher Education for Inclusion: phase 1 & 2 report
Research Report No. 26
Authors: Peter Hick, Yvette Solomon, Joseph Mintz, Aikaterini Matziari, Finn Ó Murchú, Kathy Hall, Kevin Cahill, Catriona Curtin, Despoina Margariti
Educational Experiences and Outcomes
of Children with Special Educational Needs: Phase 2 – from age 9 to 13
Research Report No. 25
Authors: Jude Cosgrove, Caroline McKeown, Joseph Travers, Zita Lysaght, Órla Ní Bhroin and Peter Archer
Research Studies undertaken as part of the Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme
International Administrative Review of the Use of Non-Teaching Adult Support in Schools for Students with Additional Care Needs
Research Study – May 2018
Authors: NCSE Research Unit
Literature Review relating to the Role
of the Special Needs Assistant
Research Study – May 2018
Authors: NCSE Research Unit
A qualitative study of how well young
people with disabilities are prepared
for life after school
Research Study – June 2017
Authors: RSM PACEC
Altered Provision Project –
Review of a Pilot Project
Research Study – 2018
Authors: Ann Marie Casserly, Evelyn Deacy, Dolores McDonagh, Bairbre Tiernan
Research Reports
2016
Special Classes in Irish Schools – Phase 2: A Qualitative Study
Research Report No. 24
Authors: Joanne Banks, Selina McCoy, Denise Frawley and Gillian Kingston, Economic and Social Research Institute; and Michael Shevlin and Fiona Smyth, Trinity College, Dublin.
A Study of the Experiences of Post Primary Students with Special Educational Needs
Research Report No. 23
Authors: Garry Squires, Afroditi Kalambouka and Joanna Bragg
Assistive Technology/Equipment in Supporting the Education of Children with Special Educational Needs – What Works Best?
Research Report No. 22
Authors: Richard Wynne, Donal McAnaney, Trish MacKeogh, Philomena Stapleton, Sarah Delaney, Noeleen Dowling and Isabelle Jeffares
An Evaluation of Education Provision for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Ireland
Research Report No. 21
Authors: Patricia Daly; Emer Ring; Margaret Egan; Johanna Fitzgerald; Claire Griffin; Stella Long; Eucharia McCarthy; Mary Moloney; Trevor O’Brien; Anne O’ Byrne; Siobhán O’Sullivan; Marie Ryan; Eugene Wall; with Ruth Madden and Sarah Gibbons: Research Associates
Educating Persons with Autistic Spectrum Disorder – A Systematic Literature Review
Research Report No. 20
Authors: Caroline Bond, Wendy Symes, Judith Hebron, Neil Humphrey and Gareth Morewood
Research Reports
2015
Project IRIS – Inclusive Research in Irish Schools.
A longitudinal study of the experiences of and outcomes for pupils with special educational needs (SEN) in Irish Schools.
Research Report No. 19
Authors: Richard Rose, Michael Shevlin, Eileen Winter and Paul O’Raw
Research Reports
2014
Review of NCSE Resource Allocation Process and Evaluation of Deployment of Resources in Schools
Research Report No. 18
Authors: William Kinsella, Lelia Murtagh, Joyce Senior and Michael Coleman
Educational Experiences and Outcomes for Children with Special Educational Needs: A Secondary Analysis of Data from the Growing Up in Ireland Study
Research Report No. 17
Authors: Jude Cosgrove, Caroline McKeown, Joseph Travers, Zita Lysaght, Órla Ní Bhroin and Peter Archer
Understanding Special Class Provision in Ireland
Research Report No. 16
Authors: Selina McCoy, Joanne Banks, Denise Frawley, Dorothy Watson, Michael Shevlin and Fiona Smyth
Update of NCSE Inventory of Research and Policy Related Publications in the Field of Special Education
Research Report Update
Authors: Joseph Travers and Rosie Savage
Research Reports
2013
What Works in the Provision of Higher, Further and Continuing Education, Training and Rehabilitation for Adults with Disabilities? A Review of the Literature
Research Report No. 15
Authors: Carmel Duggan and Michael Byrne
Moving to Further and Higher Education: An Exploration of the Experiences of Students with Special Educational Needs
Research Report No. 14
Authors: Conor Mc Guckin, Michael Shevlin, Sheena Bell and Cristina Devecchi
Continuum of Education Provision for children with Special Educational Needs, Review of International Policies and Practices
Research Report No. 13
Authors: Jonathan Rix, Kieron Sheehy, Felicity Fletcher-Campbell, Martin Crisp and Amanda Harper
A Study of Transition from Primary to Post-primary School for Pupils with Special Educational Needs
Research Report No. 12
Authors: Yvonne Barnes-Holmes, Geraldine Scanlon, Deirdre Desmond, Michael Shevlin and Nigel Vahey
Research Reports
2012
Measuring Educational Engagement, Progress and Outcomes for Children with Special Educational Needs
Research Report No. 11
Authors: Graeme Douglas, Joseph Travers, Mike McLinden, Christopher Robertson, Emma Smith, Natasha Macnab, Steve Powers, Karen Guldberg, Anne McGough, Margaret O’Donnell and Penny Lacey
Curriculum and Curriculum Access Issues for Students with Special Educational Needs in Post-Primary Settings: An International Review
Research Report No. 10
Authors: Alison O’Mara, Benedicte Akre, Tony Munton, Isaac Marrero-Guillamon, Alison Martin, Kate Gibson, Alexis Llewellyn, Victoria Clift-Matthews, Paul Conway and Chris Cooper
Research Reports
2011
A Study on the Prevalence of Special Educational Needs
Research Report No. 09
Authors: Joanne Banks and Selina McCoy
Access to the curriculum among young pupils with special educational needs in mainstream classes at primary school
Research Report No. 08
Authors: Jean Ware, Cathal Butler, Christopher Robertson, Margaret O’Donnell and Magi Gould
An Inventory of Research and Policy Related Publications in the Field of Special Education
Research Report
Authors: Joseph Travers, Cathal Butler and Margaret O’Donnell
– View Supplementary Report A
– View Supplementary Report B
Research Reports
2010
An International Review of the Literature of Evidence of Best Practice Models and Outcomes in the Education of Children with Emotional Disturbance/Behavioural Difficulties
Research Report No. 07
Authors: Paul Cooper and Barbara Jacobs
A National Survey of Parental Attitudes to and Experiences of Local and National Special Education Services
Research Report No. 06
Authors: David Armstrong, Gillian Kane, Gillian O’Sullivan and Maura Kelly
Procedures used to Diagnose a Disability and to Assess Special Educational Needs: An International Review
Research Report No. 05
Authors: Professor Geoff Lindsay and Dr. Martin Desforges
Literature Review on the Principles and Practices Relating to Inclusive Education for Children with Special Educational Needs
Literature Review
Authors: Eileen Winter and Paul O’ Raw
Research Reports
2009
Research Report on the Role of Special Schools and Classes in Ireland
Research Report No. 04
Authors: Dr Jean Ware, Tish Balfe, Cathal Butler, Thérèse Day, Maeve Dupont, Catherine Harten, Ann-Marie Farrell, Rory McDaid, Margaret O’Riordan, Anita Prunty and Joe Travers
International Review of the Literature of Evidence of Best Practice Models and Outcomes in the Education of Blind and Visually Impaired Children
Research Report No. 03
Authors: Graeme Douglas, Steve McCall, Mike McLinden, Sue Pavey, Jean Ware and Ann Marie Farrell
International Review of the Literature of Evidence of Best Practice Provision in the Education of Persons with Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Research Report No. 02
Authors: Sarah Parsons, Karen Guldberg, Andrea MacLeod, Glenys Jones, Anita Prunty and Tish Balfe
Evidence of Best Practice Models and Outcomes in the Education of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children: An International Review
Research Report No. 01
Authors: Marc Marschark and Patricia Spencer