Appointment of members to the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools and its Diocesan Education Committees
Date published:
Education Minister Paul Givan has announced the appointment of five new members to the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) and its Diocesan Education Committees (DECS) with effect from 26 August 2025.
Welcoming the appointments, Paul Givan said:
“I am pleased to make these appointments as each successful candidate brings valuable expertise and experience to CCMS and its Committees.
“They have extensive backgrounds in such areas as governance, accountability and risk management, strategic decision/planning and performance, communication and engagement and transformation and change management. Their significant knowledge and skills will play a key role in underpinning the work of the Council and DECs.
“I would also like to thank the outgoing Council and DEC members for their dedication and service.”
The appointments are:
Council
Dr Andrew Brown is currently a Principal Lecturer (Head of BEd (Primary); Head of Arts & Humanities) at Stranmillis University College and Academic staff representative on its Governing Body. Dr Brown is Chairperson of the Transferor Representatives’ Council and is Vice-Chairperson of the Controlled Schools’ Support Council. Dr Brown is also the Chairperson of Broughshane Primary School Board of Governors for which he receives no remuneration.
Council and Armagh DEC
Mr Kevin Donaghy is currently Principal of St Ronan’s Primary School, Newry (presently on a career break). He currently holds one other public appointment on the Board of Governors of St Maria Goretti Nursery School, Belfast, for which he receives no remuneration.
Council and Dromore DEC
Mrs Maureen Eccles is a former Principal of St Mary's Primary School Comber and is currently a member of the Finance Committee for the Parish of St Colmcille’s Holywood. She currently holds one other public appointment as a Lay Commissioner on the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission for which she receives £42 per hour.
Council and Down and Connor DEC
Mr James Beatty worked in the Northern Ireland Civil Service before joining the Northern Ireland Assembly soon after it was set up. During his time in the Assembly, he held a number of posts within the Committee Directorate, including Clerk to the Public Accounts Committee. He currently holds one other public appointment as an Independent Assessor for the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland.
Mr Cathal O’Doherty is former Principal of St Clare’s Primary School, Belfast and is currently a Recruitment Advisor for CCMS Principal and Vice Principal appointments. Mr O’Doherty does not hold any public appointments.
CCMS is a non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department of Education and its fundamental aims are to develop and promote quality education within the Catholic maintained sector and the effective management and control of Catholic maintained schools. It ensures the effective and efficient recruitment, management and development of a highly motivated teaching force within the Catholic maintained sector and promote and co-ordinate, in consultation with the Trustees, the planning of the effective provision of Catholic maintained schools.
Notes to editors:
1. The Council also has a Diocesan dimension in respect of its policies and their implementation and the 1989 Order established a Diocesan Education Committee in each of the Dioceses of Armagh, Clogher and Kilmore, Derry, Down and Connor and Dromore. Each of the Diocesan Education Committees is supported by a team of professional officers and exercises many of the Council’s operational and representational responsibilities.
2. There are 36 members in total on the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools with eight members appointed as departmental appointees by the Department of Education.
3. The membership across the five DECs consists of a total of 74, of which 16 are departmental appointed members.
4. The appointments will be effective from 26 August 2025 until 29 November 2028 (unless terminated before that time). Members on the CCMS Council/DECs are not remunerated but can claim travel and subsistence allowances necessarily incurred on Council/DEC business.
5. The expected time commitment for members on the Council is approximately 5 days per annum and 3 days per annum for DEC members with members expected to attend Council/DEC meetings, committee meetings and other ad hoc meetings.
6. This competition was widely advertised including in the Public Appointments section of NI Direct.
7. These appointments have been made in accordance with the principles and practices of the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Appointments are made on merit, and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner requires the political activity of appointees to be published. None of the appointees have declared any political activity in the last five years.
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