What are the HEAR & DARE Access Routes to Education?
Firstly, what is HEAR (Higher Education Access Route)?
HEAR is an admission scheme for school leavers facing social and economic challenges in accessing college. It offers course places on reduced points and extra college supports to school leavers from disadvantaged backgrounds that are resident in Ireland. A list of colleges that participate in the HEAR scheme can be viewed here: http://accesscollege.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/HEAR-2021-Information-4pp-WEB.pdf
HEAR applicants must meet a range of financial, social and cultural indicators to be considered for a reduced- points place at college. You must meet indicator 1 plus 2 other indicators to be eligible for HEAR.
This is a list of the indicators:
1. INCOME: family income falls on or below the HEAR income limit for the year 2019. The income limits vary depending on the number of dependent children in the home. If there are fewer than 4 children, it is €45,790. If there are 4 - 7 children, it is €50, 325. And, if there are 8 or more children, it is €54,630.
2. MEDICAL/ GP VISIT CARD: card must be in date on 31 December 2020
3. MEANS TESTED SOCIAL WELFARE: family must of received a means tested social welfare payment for at least 26 weeks in 2019
4. SOCIO ECONOMIC GROUP: you belong to a group that is under- represented at Third Level based on the employment status of your parents/ guardians
5. DEIS SCHOOL: you have completed 5 years in a DEIS School (Disadvantaged School).
6. AREA PROFILE: you live in an area with high disadvantage, high unemployment and poverty.
There are 4 combinations of indicators that are accepted to be eligible for HEAR:
· Indicator 1 +2+4 or 5 or 6
· Indicator 1+3+4 or 5 or 6
· Indicator 1+4+5 or 6
· Indicator 1 +5 +6
How do I apply for HEAR?
Firstly, apply to CAO by 1st Feb. 2021 5.15pm. The HEAR online application is accessed via your CAO application. Complete all parts of your online HEAR application by 1st March 2021 at 5.15pm. Gather all supporting documents. The list of supporting documents will be made available to you when you complete the online application. Submit copies of supporting documents to CAO, Tower House, Eglinton Street Galway by 17:15 on 15th March 2021. In late June 2021, applicants will be notified of the outcome of their HEAR application. HEAR applicants will be notified of offers at the CAO offer stage.
HEAR is not the SUSI grant and if eligible, applicants can get a HEAR course offer and the SUSI Student Grant.
What is DARE (Disability Access Route to Education)?
DARE is a college and university admissions scheme which offers places on reduced points to school leavers with disabilities and specific learning difficulties. It also offers academic, personal and social supports to students while studying at Third Level.
If you apply to DARE and meet the application criteria, you may be offered a place even if you do not have enough Leaving Cert. points for your preferred course. Each participating college and university have a number of reserved places to offer eligible DARE applicants at reduced points.
A list of colleges that participate in the DARE scheme are available here:
http://accesscollege.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DARE-2021-Information-6pp-WEB.pdf
How do I apply to DARE?
Firstly, applicants must apply to the CAO before the 1st Feb 2021 at 5.15pm.You must indicate your wish to be considered for DARE by ticking ‘yes’ to question 1 on the Supplementary Information accessed via your CAO application by the 1st March at 5.15pm. You must also complete section A (questions 1-5) of the Supplementary Information Form by 1st March 2021 at 5.15pm. You must inform your school that you are making a DARE application as the school will have to complete Section B, the Educational Impact Statement. You must submit all supporting documents (Section B: Educational Impact Statement & Section C: Evidence of disability) to CAO, Tower House, Eglinton Street Galway by 15th March 2021. In June 2021, you will be notified of the outcome of your DARE application. Offers will be made at CAO offer stage in August 2021.
The types of disabilities eligible for a DARE application are:
· Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)/ Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
· Autistic Spectrum Disorder (including Asperger’s Syndrome)
· Blind/ Vision Impaired
· 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 a Cochlear Implant.
· Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) – Dyspraxia
· Mental Health condition
· Neurological Condition (incl. Epilepsy and Brain Injury)
· Physical Disability
· Significant Ongoing Illness
· Speech and Language Communication Disorder
· Specific Learning Difficulty* (incl. Dyslexia & Dyscalculia)
For more information on HEAR/ DARE applications, go to www.accesscollege.ie. The website has valuable information to assist you with your application. I would advise anyone thinking on making a HEAR/ DARE application to download the handbooks from the website and read through them before you begin. There will be an Information Day online on the 9th January 2021 from 10am until 2pm at the above website address. This is an excellent opportunity to ask questions in relation to individual applications. CAO are advising that HEAR/ DARE applicants apply as soon as possible in the current climate. Deadlines are deadlines and are very strict. Many students miss out on their HEAR/ DARE college offer each year as they did not submit their supporting documents on time. Get organised and apply early. If you would like help with your HEAR/ DARE application, contact McCullagh Careers today to arrange an appointment via email info@mccullaghcareers.ie or phone 0872120527.