The document provides information about the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) and Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) schemes, which offer alternative college admission routes and supports for socially, financially, or educationally disadvantaged students or students with disabilities. It details the eligibility criteria for HEAR and DARE, how to apply, required documents, and deadlines. The schemes are accepted at numerous universities and institutes of technology across Ireland.

1. HEAR
&
DARE
8 0

2. Higher Education Access
Route is an admissions
route for school leavers
who for social, financial or
cultural reasons are under-
represented at third level
education.
What is HEAR?

3. You Will Learn
• About access to college
schemes.
• If you should apply.
• The benefits.
• How to apply.

6. It was set up to ensure
that all Leaving Certificate
students have a fair and
equal opportunity to
progress to third level
education.
What is HEAR?

7. Applying For A Grant
HEAR is NOT the SUSI grant.
If you apply to HEAR,
you should also apply to SUSI
if you think you may be eligible.
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8. Why Apply To HEAR?
1. Reduced Points for CAO offers in the
participating colleges, provided you meet the
minimum entry requirements.
2. Post-entry supports - financial, academic,
social and personal.
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9. Where Are HEAR & DARE Accepted?
Dublin City University
Technology University
Blanchardstown, Dublin &
Tallaght
Institute of Art, Design &
Technology, Dún Laoghaire
Marino Institute of
Education
National College of Ireland
RCSI
Trinity College, Dublin
University College, Dublin
ATU Galway/ Mayo
University of Galway
TUS Limerick
Mary Immaculate College
University of Limerick
MTU Cork
University College Cork
ATU Sligo
ATU Letterkenny
TUS Athlone,
Clonmel & Thurles
MTU Tralee
Maynooth University
Pontifical University
SETU Waterford and Carlow

10. Your family must meet the HEAR income limit
Number of dependent*
children in your family Hear Income Limit
Fewer than 4 €46,790
4-7 €51,325
More than 8 €55,630
Add €4,785 to the total income for every sibling/parent enrolled in a full-
time college, university or Post Leaving Certificate further education
course.

11. HEAR Application Criteria
1. Meet the HEAR income limit in 2021?
2. Do you or our family have a Medical Card/GP Visit Card?
3.
Did your parents/guardians receive a means-tested social
welfare payment for at least 26 weeks in 2021?
4.
Is your parents’ or guardians’ employment status under-
represented in Higher Education?
5.
Have you attended a DEIS second level school for five
years?
6. Do you live in an area of concentrated disadvantage?
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12. plus the right combination of 2 other
indicators to be eligible.

13. HEAR Possible Criteria 1
1. Meet the HEAR income limit in 2021?
+
2. You or our family have a Medical Card/GP Visit Card?
+
4.
Parents’ or guardians’ employment status under-
represented in Higher Education?
OR
5. Have attended a DEIS second level school for five years?
OR
6. Live in an area of concentrated disadvantage?

14. HEAR Possible Criteria 2
1. Meet the HEAR income limit in 2021?
+
3.
Did your parents/guardians receive a means-tested social
welfare payment for at least 26 weeks in 2021?
+
4. Your parents’ or guardians’ employment status under-
represented in Higher Education?
OR
5. Have attended a DEIS second level school for five years?
OR
6. Live in an area of concentrated disadvantage?

15. 1. Meet the HEAR income limit in 2021?
+
4.
Is your parents’ or guardians’ employment status under-
represented in Higher Education?
OR
5.
Have attended a DEIS second level school for five years?
6. Live in an area of concentrated disadvantage?
HEAR Possible Criteria 3

16. 1. Meet the HEAR income limit in 2021?
+
5. Have attended a DEIS second level school for five years?
+
6. Live in an area of concentrated disadvantage?
HEAR Possible Criteria 4

17. Video of how to use Pobal Maps to see if you are in
area of concentrated disadvantage

18. To see if you live in an area of disadvantage is
on Pobal Maps Portal (link below)
https://maps.pobal.ie/WebApps/DeprivationIndices/index.html
4% of population
with a College
Degree
78% of
population with a
College Degree

19. Read the handbook with parents/guardians.

20. Go through the relevant booklets.
Each image is Hyperlinked

21. How Do I Apply?
1. By 17:00, 1st February apply to CAO at www.cao.ie
1. Fill in your HEAR Application Guide & Workbook with
parents or guardians.
3. By 17:00, 1st March Indicate on your CAO application
that you wish to apply for the HEAR scheme and
complete the online HEAR application form.
4. By 17:00, 15th March.
Submit clear copies of supporting documents
requested on your checklist to CAO.
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22. How Do I Know What Documents I
Need?
When you fill in your online HEAR
application you will receive a checklist at
the end.
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23. Supporting Documents could include
P21 or Self Assessment Letter – for 2021
Social Welfare Form for 2021 Signed and Stamped by
Social Welfare official
Retirement Lump Sum Letter for 2021
RP50 Notification of Redundancy or Retirement Lump
Sum Letter for 2021
Letter from TUSLA for Children in Care

24. Helpful Tips
1. Study and fill in the guide carefully with your parents /
guardians.
1. Complete the online application accurately.
2. Give an accurate description of parental occupation.
3. Request the required supporting documentation early.
1. Send good quality copies of all pages of the correct
documents.
1. Submit all supporting documents requested.
2. Keep proof of postage.
3. Be aware of the deadlines!
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28. The 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.
What is DARE?

29. 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.
What is DARE?

30. Who Should Apply?
1. If your disability has had a negative impact on
your educational performance in school.
1. You may not be able to meet the points for your
preferred course due to the impact of disability.
1. If you are under 23 years as at 1 January 2023.
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31. – Autistic Spectrum Disorders (including Asperger’s)
– ADD / ADHD
– Blind / Vision Impaired
– Deaf / Hard of Hearing
– DCD – Dyspraxia/Dysgraphia
– Mental Health Conditions
– Neurological Conditions
Brain Injury, Epilepsy,
Speech & Language Communication
Disorder
– Significant Ongoing Illness
– Physical Disability
– Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia & Dyscalculia)
You Should Apply If You Have
Any Of The Below Disabilities

32. Who Should Apply?
Has your disability impacted on a combination of the
following?
1. Have you received intervention or supports in post-primary
school?
2. Has it impacted on your attendance or regularly disrupted
your
school day?
3. Has it affected your school experience and well-being?
4. Has it impacted on your learning or exam results?
5. Has it caused any other educational impact?
6. Required for applicants with Specific Learning Difficulty: is it severely
impacting on your literacy or numeracy skills?

33. Applicants must provide the
required evidence of their
disability and provide an
Educational Impact Statement
from their school to be considered
for DARE.

34. How Do I Apply?
1. Apply online to CAO by 17:00 on 1 February.
1. Review your DARE Application Guide with parents or
guardians.
1. Indicate in your CAO application that you wish to apply for
the DARE scheme No later than 17:00 on 1st March.
1. Post your supporting documents (Educational Impact
Statement and Evidence of Disability) to arrive in CAO no
later than 17:00 on 15th March.
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35. DARE / HEAR Timeline
1st Feb Apply to CAO at www.cao.ie
1st March DARE & HEAR closing date
15th March Supporting documents closing date
Late June Notification of eligibility
July Review and Appeals Application
August HEAR/DARE offers
Late Aug /Early Sept College Orientation
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36. Remember…
you can apply to both DARE & HEAR
Applicants who are both DARE and HEAR eligible will
be prioritised by colleges when allocating reduced
points places.
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37. Documents You Need
1. Applicant Information
2. Educational Impact Statement
3. Evidence of a Disability
4. Applicant Statement
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38. Section C: Evidence of Disability
Check out the guide to providing
evidence of your disability on:
http://accesscollege.ie/dare/forms
-guides-resources/

39. Supplementary Information Form (SIF)
Section A: Applicant Information
• Completed by you by 1st March.
• Answer Yes to Q1 to apply to DARE and fully complete Questions
1-4.
Section B: Educational Impact Statement
• Applicant Statement completed by you.
• School Statement completed by your school.
• Send to CAO by 15th March.
Section C: Evidence of a Disability
• Completed by the appropriate professional.
• Send to CAO by 15th March.

40. Section B:
Educational Impact Statement
Provides information on how your disability has impacted on
your second level education. There are 2 sections:
1. Applicant Statement 2. School Statement
Applicant Statement
• Download form.
• Complete the Applicant
Statement with your school.

41. Section B:
Educational Impact Statement
School Statement
• This section needs to be completed by either your:
• Guidance Counsellor
• Learning Support Teacher
• Year Head or
• Visiting Teacher
• The form MUST BE signed and stamped by school
principal/deputy principal.
• You must return to the CAO by 15th March.

42. Provides verification of your disability and helps to
determine 3rd level supports.
• You can provide an existing report OR
• Complete Section C Evidence of Disability.
Get form completed, signed and stamped by the
appropriate professional or accompanied by their
business card or headed paper.
Section C:
Evidence of Disability

43. Section C:
Evidence of Disability
GP Verification
Your GP may be in a position to complete
Section C Evidence of Disability, if they have
the appropriate information on file from the
consultant/specialist.

44. Section C:
Evidence of Disability
Age of Reports
It is important to note that applicants applying under
the following disability categories:
● ADD / ADHD
● Mental Health Condition
● Significant Ongoing Illness
Must provide a report that is less than 3 years
old i.e. dated after 1st February 2020.

45. Section C:
Evidence of Disability
Age of Reports
Report of any age acceptable for all the other listed
disabilities.

46. Further Information

47. Remember…
☑ Submit it!
☑ Check it!
☑ Send it!

48. Further informations
• www.cao.ie
• www.accesscollege.ie