What is DARE?

DARE allows admissions offices in 13 colleges to offer places to students with disabilities below the required CAO points.

Each college admissions office sets aside a number of places on each course for students with a disability who may not achieve the required CAO points. If a course accepts only a small number of students there may be only 1 such place. Courses with large numbers of places could reserve up to 5% of its places for applicants with a disability.

TCD reserves 22% of places on every course for 'non-traditional' students, including students with disabilities, students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and Mature students, and applies a 15% reduction in points for DARE eligible students. You can download a reduced points scale to calculate how many points will be reduced on the course of your choice in Trinity. For information on the number of DARE places available in other colleges, you can check the quotas list.

More information on DARE statistics please contact us for a text accessible version.

DARE has its own website which explains the application procedure. Colleges and universities that take part in the DARE scheme run a number of information days and open days throughout the year for guidance counsellors and students who are thinking of applying to college http://www.accesscollege.ie/dare/events-and-media.php

What you need to know:

• If you are eligible for DARE you are eligible to compete for a college place on reduced points. It does not mean you will automatically be offered a college place.
• If you are ineligible for DARE you may still be offered a college place based on the points you acheive.
• Applying to DARE is not noted on your Leaving Certificate.
• Whether you are eligible for DARE or not, you can still be supported by the Disability Service in college.
• For some disabilities there is a time limit on the disability evidence required. This is needed to provide a picture of current functioning during senior cycle education.

We asked our DARE students for their advice to this year's Leaving Certificate students

Our advice:

1. Practice the CAO and DARE online application procedure using the interactive demo provided by the CAO.
2. Check the 'Evidence' required for your disability.
3. Check the 'Criteria' for eligiblity.
4. Take note of the deadlines.
5. You should submit your application, evidence and any other documents yourself.  Hundreds of applications were ineligible last year because they did not arrive before the closing date.  Post your application yourself, by registered mail, and keep the receipt!

An application guide is available in the Download documents section.

If you have any questions concerning DARE please post them in the Transition Blog.