The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE)
What is DARE?
DARE is a third level alternative admissions scheme for school-leavers whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education. DARE offers reduced points places to school leavers who, as a result of having a disability, have experienced additional educational challenges in second level education.
Who can apply to DARE?
DARE is for school leavers under the age of 23 as of 1 January 2021 with a disability, who have been educationally impacted as a result of that disability. Applicants to DARE can present with an Irish Leaving Certificate, A-Levels and/ or other EU qualifications. Mature students and students applying on the basis of Further Education and Training (FET) results have different admission routes. You can get further information on these routes from college and university websites.
What are the benefits of DARE?
If you apply to DARE and meet the application criteria (that is, are deemed eligible for DARE) you may be offered a place even if you do not have enough Leaving Certificate points for your preferred course. Each participating college and university has a reserved number of places to offer eligible DARE applicants at lower or reduced Leaving Certificate points.
DARE Application Timeline
From November 2020 |
CAO applications open from 5 November 2020 at 12 noon:
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By 1 February 2021 |
Apply to CAO by 17:15 on 1 February. |
By 1 March 2021 |
You must indicate your wish to be considered for DARE by ticking 'Yes' to Question 1 and complete Section A (Questions 1-5) of the Supplementary Information Form (SIF) on www.cao.ie by 17:15 on 1 March. |
By 15 March 2021 |
You must return the completed, signed AND stamped
Make sure your documents are clear and can be easily read. Put your name and CAO number on all documents. Faxed/emailed documents are not accepted. |
April - June 2021 |
Assessment of DARE applications. |
In Late June 2021 |
You will be notified of the outcome of your DARE application. DARE Review and Appeals Application. |
Early August 2021 |
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the Review and Appeals application. |
August 2021 |
Leaving Certificate Exam Results.
Eligible DARE applicants compete for reduced points places.
CAO Offers to eligible DARE applicants.
Course offers are made and should be accepted though the CAO
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Late August/Early September 2021 | Attend Orientation and register with Disability Support Services. |
Meeting DARE's Educational Impact Criteria
You and your school must complete the Educational Impact Statement.
In order to meet DARE’s educational impact criteria, applicants must meet the correct combination of two of the following indicators of educational impact:
1. Intervention and Supports |
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2. Attendance and Disruption |
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3. School Experience and Well-being |
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4. Learning and Exam Results |
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5. Other Educational Impact |
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6. Specific Learning Difficulty Attainment Scores |
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Applicants with a Specific Learning Difficulty must meet Indicator 6 plus one other indicator to meet the DARE Educational Impact criteria.
All other applicants must meet any combination of two indicators from indicators 1 to 5 to meet the DARE Educational Impact criteria.
Meeting DARE's Evidence of Disability Criteria
Please see the Guide to Providing Evidence of Your Disability below to view what documentation you are required to submit. Detailed information on the evidence of disability criteria which is used to assess your evidence of disability documentation is available on www.accesscollege.ie. If your type of disability does not appear in the list below, please go to the Providing Evidence of Your Disability section on www.accesscollege.ie or contact a member of the DARE Team for guidance.
Type of Disability | Appropriate Documentation | Type of professional | Required age of report |
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)/ Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). |
Evidence of Disability Form 2021
OR
Existing report.
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Consultant Psychiatrist
OR Psychologist
OR Neurologist
OR Paediatrician
|
Must be less than three years old i.e. dated after 1 February 2018 |
Autistic Spectrum Disorder (including Asperger's Syndrome). |
Evidence of Disability Form 2021
OR
Existing report.
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Consultant Psychiatrist
OR Psychologist
OR Neurologist
OR Paediatrician
|
No age limit. |
Blind/Vision Impaired. |
Evidence of Disability Form 2021
OR
Existing report.
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Ophthalmologist
OR Ophthalmic Surgeon
|
No age limit. |
Deaf/Hard of Hearing: Students may apply under ONE of the following categories: (A) Applicants who have an audiogram (B) Applicants who attend a School for the Deaf (C) Applicants with Cochlear Implant. |
(A) Applicants who have an audiogram: Audiogram (B) Applicants who attend a School for the Deaf: Letter confirming attendance from Principal of School for the Deaf
OR
Evidence of Disability Form 2021
(C) Applicants with a Cochlear Implant: Existing report confirming cochlear implant
OR
Evidence of Disability Form 2021 (DARE does not accept reports from high street retailers).
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(A) Applicants who have an audiogram: Diagnostic/Clinical Audiologist registered with the Irish Academy of Audiologists (IAA) or HSE Audiologist. (B) School for the Deaf: Principal of School for the Deaf (C) Applicants with a Cochlear Implant: Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Consultant OR Cochlear Implant Programme Coordinator. |
No age limit. |
Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD)-Dyspraxia. |
Evidence of Disability Form 2021
OR
Existing report.
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Occupational Therapist OR Neurologist OR Physiotherapist OR Paediatrician. |
No age limit on either document. |
Mental Health condition. |
Evidence of Disability Form 2021
OR
Existing report.
|
Consultant Psychiatrist on specialist register. |
Must be less than three years old i.e. dated after 1 February 2018. |
Neurological Condition (incl. Epilepsy and Brain Injury). |
Evidence of Disability Form 2021
OR
Existing report.
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Neurologist OR Other relevant consultant. |
No age limit. |
Physical Disability |
Evidence of Disability Form 2021
OR
Existing report.
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Orthopaedic Consultant OR Other relevant Consultant appropriate to the disability/condition. |
No age limit. |
Significant Ongoing Illness. |
Evidence of Disability Form 2021
OR
Existing report.
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Relevant Consultant/Specialist appropriate to the disability/condition. |
Must be less than three years old i.e. dated after 1 February 2018. |
Speech and Language Communication Disorder. |
Evidence of Disability Form 2021
OR
Existing report.
|
Speech and Language Therapist. |
No age limit. |
Specific Learning Difficulty* (incl. Dyslexia & Dyscalculia) |
Psychological Assessment Report. |
Psychologist. |
No age limit. |
*Applicants with a specific learning difficulty must provide literacy and numeracy attainment scores from tests carried out on or after 1 February 2019 as part of the DARE educational impact criteria. These can be from school based testing or from a psychologist.
General Practitioner (GP) Verification
If you have an existing diagnosis but have difficulty accessing the appropriate professional to get confirmation of the existing diagnosis or an updated report, you may ask your general practitioner (GP) to complete the Section C Evidence of Disability form. Your GP may do this if they have a clear diagnosis on file from the appropriate professional listed above and this was received within the given timeframe if a time limit applies. A copy of the document in which your diagnosis is confirmed must be included in your application when using this GP verification. Your GP does not need to give you copies of your entire file - a single document which confirms your diagnosis and is within the time limit (if one applies) is sufficient.
Once you have provided Evidence of Disability documentation and Educational Impact Statement your application will be assessed and the outcome of your application determined.
The outcome of your application i.e. if you are eligible or ineligible for DARE, is established by seeing whether or not you meet DARE’s eligibility criteria. To find out more about the DARE criteria which applies to your disability see www.accesscollege.ie/dare.
Where can I find out more information on DARE?
DARE organises Application Information Days each year. Application Information Days provide an opportunity for you and/or your parent(s)/guardian(s) to chat with a member of the DARE team to discuss your application. The Application Information Days will take place online for 2021. Further information on DARE applicatiion days 2021 will be publised on accesscollege.ie
You can also contact the CAO Helpdesk with questions on completing a DARE application. The simplest way to contact the CAO is by clicking on the 'Contact Us' button on www.cao.ie Alternatively, you can call the helpdesk at 091-509 800.
Dare will only discuss details of your application with you or your parent(s)/guardian(s).
All participating colleges have a staff member who can advise you on how to apply to DARE. If you wish to speak to someone about your DARE application, contact any member of the DARE team. Their contact details are provided here: