What is DARE?
The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a college admissions scheme for school leavers (under 23) whose disability has negatively impacted their learning and educational experience during secondary school. Eligible DARE applicants will compete for DARE reduced points places on college places.
Applicants to DARE can present with an Irish Leaving Certificate, GCE A/ AS Levels and/or other EU equivalent qualifications.
Find out below what disabilities are considered under the DARE scheme.
Additional Information
Click on the following links for more information to help you make a DARE application.
Is DARE for me?
To be eligible for DARE you must meet both the DARE Educational Impact criteria and DARE Evidence of Disability criteria.
What types of disabilities does DARE consider?
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)-Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD, including Asperger’s Syndrome)
- Blind or Vision Impaired
- Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) – Dyspraxia
- Dyscalculia or significant numeracy difficulties
- Dyslexia or significant literacy difficulties
- Mental Health Condition (such as depression, severe anxiety and schizophrenia)
- Neurological condition (such as brain injury and epilepsy)
- Physical disability (significant mobility difficulties)
- Significant Ongoing Illness (such as cystic fibrosis)
- Speech and language communication disorder
Research has identified that students with physical disabilities, and students who are blind or vision impaired or deaf or hard of hearing are under-represented in higher education (college) in Ireland compared to all students with disabilities. The colleges that take part in DARE want to increase the numbers of DARE students with these disabilities in college. To do this, these colleges give priority to these groups when allocating reduced points places.
If you apply to DARE and meet the application criteria (and deemed eligible for DARE) you may be offered a college place even if you do not have enough Leaving Certificate points for your preferred course. Each participating college and university has reserved a number of places to offer eligible DARE applicants at lower Leaving Certificate points.
Other access routes to college
Across the Irish higher education sector there are a range of schemes, scholarships and awards which aim to help people get into college. To find out more about the support available visit the websites of our participating institutions.
What evidence of my Disability do I need to provide?
Find out what evidence of your disability DARE requires you to submit as part of your application.
How do I apply?
You can apply to DARE via cao.ie from Thursday 5 November but you should start to review the DARE handbook and the information on this website with your parent(s) or guardian(s) and school teacher or guidance counsellor as soon as you can before making your application.
