Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2023
643. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department can provide a breakdown or request a breakdown of the number of DARE places available in each of the third-level participating universities; if there are plans to expand the number of places available through the DARE programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46347/23]
View answer644. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the qualifying criteria for the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE); if there is a list of disabilities considered under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46348/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 643 and 644 together.
The DARE scheme is a reduced points mechanisms for entry into higher education. The scheme is managed and operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) on behalf of the higher education institutions who are autonomous bodies. Admissions under the scheme are regulated by the higher education institutions themselves. Each institution determines its own admissions policy in relation to the schemes, the number of places they reserve and the allocation of those places.
The IUA have advised that the DARE scheme is a programme aimed at increasing participation by students whose disabilities have severely impacted their educational experience. All public HEIs in the state participate in the scheme and reserve a minimum of 5% of their first year undergraduate places for reduced points offers for these students in acknowledgement of the barriers they have faced. There are many other students who are eligible for the DARE scheme who go on to achieve the required points in the Leaving Certificate. Every DARE eligible student can access a range of disability supports once they start college and throughout their third level experience.
It should be noted that even those students whose disability has not severely impacted their post-primary experience can still avail of these supports in college even if they are not eligible for DARE.
There are no further plans however, to increase the number of reduced points places at HEIs
Applications to the schemes are submitted to the Central Applications Office (CAO) who coordinate the scheme for participating institutions. As such, my Department has no role in determining the policy criteria or operation of the scheme.
A full list of Access office contact details for participating HEIs and a full list of the Disabilities considered under the scheme can be found at www.cao.ie.
