Am I eligible to apply for DARE (Disability Access Route to Education)?
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. It is for school leavers with a disability under the age of 23 as of 1 January 2022. Applicants to DARE can present with an Irish Leaving Certificate, A-Levels and other EU qualifications. DARE applicants, like all other applicants applying to college, need to meet the minimum entry requirements and any specific programme requirements before being considered for a DARE reduced points offer. The reduction in points for DARE places can vary every year.
What types of disabilities does DARE consider?
If you have one or more of the disabilities listed below and your disability has had a negative impact on your second level education, then you should apply to DARE.
- Autistic Spectrum Disorder (including Asperger’s Syndrome)
- Attention Deficit Disorder / Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Blind / Vision Impaired (Including, but not limited to, the following conditions: Albinism, Aniridia, Coloboma Congenital cataracts, Corneal dystrophies (including Keratoconus), Nystagmus, Optic atrophy, Optic Nerve Hypoplasia, Retinal dystrophy, Retinitis pigmentosa, Retinal detachment, Stargardt’s macular dystrophy, etc.)
- Deaf / Hard of Hearing
- DCD - Dyspraxia
- Mental Health Condition (Including (but not exclusively) Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Clinical Depressive Conditions, Severe Anxiety, Severe Phobias, OCD, Severe Eating Disorders, Psychosis)
- Neurological Conditions (Including (but not exclusively) Epilepsy, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Huntington’s Disease, Brain Tumour, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease, Friedreich’s Ataxia, Head/Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy)
- Speech & Language Communication (Including (but not exclusively) Stammering; Receptive and/or Expressive Language Disorders; Unintelligibility due to a phonological disorder, articulation disorder associated with structural anomalies; Acquired communication disorders such as Aphasia, Anomia, Dysarthria, Dyspraxia resulting from neurological conditions, or any Neurodegenerative, or genetic disease associated with impaired communication and social interaction) Disorder
- Significant Ongoing Illness (Including (but not exclusively) Diabetes Type 1, Cystic Fibrosis (CF), Severe Crohn’s Disease, Severe Ulcerative Colitis and Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD), Chronic Fatigue, Cancers)
- Physical Disability This category of DARE is reserved for those with significant mobility difficulties. For example, applications for those with Hypermobility or Costochondritis may be considered for DARE under Significant Ongoing Illness provided that all other application guidelines have been followed. This category includes (but not exclusively) Cerebral Palsy, Brittle Bone Disease, Spina Bifida, Rheumatoid/Osteoarthritis, Spinal Cord Injuries, Muscular Dystrophy, Hydrocephalus)
- Specific Learning Difficulty (including Dyslexia and Dyscalculia)
How do I make a DARE application?
Apply to the CAO by 5pm on 1 February 2022.
Disclose your disability and/ or specific learning difficulty in your CAO application and fully and correctly complete Section A of the Supplementary Information Form (SIF) no later than 5pm on 1 March 2022. You must also answer YES to Question 1 (‘Do you wish to be considered for DARE?’) on Section A of the fully completed SIF by 5pm on 1 March 2022.
Download Section B Educational Impact Statement (EIS) and have your school complete the form. Return the EIS to the CAO to arrive by 5pm on 15 March 2022.
Download Section C Evidence of Disability, and have it completed by the appropriate medical professional (only if you do not already have a report verifying your disability that meets the DARE criteria). Return it to the CAO to arrive by 5pm on 15 March 2022.
What colleges participate in the DARE scheme?
- National College of Ireland
- University of Limerick
- Athlone Institute of Technology
- Munster Technological University, Cork campus
- Dublin City University
- Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology
- Dundalk Institute of Technology
- Galway Mayo Institute of Technology
- Institute of Technology, Carlow
- Institute of Technology, Sligo
- Munster Technological University, Kerry campus
- Letterkenny Institute of Technology
- Limerick Institute of Technology
- Marino Institute of Education
- Mary Immaculate College
- Maynooth University
- NUI Galway
- Pontifical University, Maynooth
- RCSI University of Medicine & Health
- St. Angela’s College, Sligo
- Technological University Dublin
- Trinity College Dublin
- University College Cork
- University College Dublin
- Waterford Institute of Technology
What happens after my application is submitted and assessed?
You will be notified by email of the outcome of your DARE application by the end of June. If you do not receive any correspondence by July 1, contact a member of the DARE team. If you are eligible for a DARE place, this means you can now compete for one of the reduced points places on offer in the colleges taking part in DARE. Successful DARE applicants will then be made offers by the CAO at the offer stage in August.
For more information on making a DARE application, go to www.accesscollege.ie/dare . It is an excellent website and contains all the relevant information on making a DARE application. Read over the Handbook on the website before you begin your application. My advice is to start your application early as supporting documents and the EIS (Educational impact statement) take time so don’t leave it too close to the deadline.
Best of luck with your application!