DARE Logo
Find out how you can access higher education in Ireland

Guide to posting your documents

  • Keep photocopies of ALL documents that you are posting. Put your name and CAO number on every document you send.
  • Get proof of postage each time you are posting documentation.
  • You can get a certificate of postage from An Post. For your convenience, there are four certificates of postage slips pre-printed on the back cover of the CAO Handbook. Just ask the teller in An Post to stamp one of the certificates when you are sending your documentation.
  • For confirmation that the documents you posted arrived safely in CAO, enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with your documentation.
  • Submit all supporting documents to the CAO, Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway before 15 March 2024.

When should I apply?

Follow this link for all of the key dates and deadlines for your applications

Do I have everything I need?

Click here for full details of how to apply under each DARE category.

Provide a background on your educational experience

Click here for full details of how to complete your Educational Impact Statement.

Have you applied to AND were eligible for DARE last year?

If you were eligible for DARE in 2022 and wish to reapply for a college place, click here to find out how to carry forward your eligibility

Application Guides, Resources and Forms

Check out this page for printable resources to help support your DARE application

Terms and Conditions of Applications

Click here for the terms and conditions for your DARE application

For more information, contact the Access Office in one of the participating colleges

News and Events

Join Our DARE HEAR CPD Webinar Series!

Are you a teacher, guidance counsellor, or youth and community professional working with young people? If so, our Continuous Professional Development (CPD) series is tailored