Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 863: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if information packs are available, or will be made available to parents of children with special needs who are about to begin school or who are about to progress into second level or third level education. [10082/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and my Department has made information available to schools by way of circulars and guidelines on the resources available to support pupils with special educational needs. This information may be accessed on the NCSE's website www.ncse.ie or on my Department's website www.education.ie.

I am advised by the NCSE that information packs for parents of children with special educational needs are not yet available and my officials intends liaising with the NCSE with a view to having such information available over the coming months.

The NCSE, with its national network of over 80 Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) is providing a structure for the delivery of an effective and speedy education service to children and families coping with disability on a daily basis. Working locally on the ground, the SENOs are a focal point of contact for parents and schools. It is open to parents to contact their local SENOs directly regarding their child's special educational need and contact details are available on the Council's website or by contacting the Council's headquarters at 046 9486400.