DARE

Disability Access Route to Education Scheme

IT Tralee is part of the DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) national admissions scheme which can allocate reduced points places to eligible school leavers under 23 years old with learning difference, health conditions and disabilities.

ITT is committed to helping students to avail of its courses. Before choosing a course, applicants should contact the relevant Department to discuss the demands of the course/s they are interested in. They should check the entry requirements for the course/s, for example the level of Maths required and the number of honours subjects required. Applicants should also check if there are any other requirements for the course/s such as a portfolio or interview. Course details are available in the IT Tralee prospectus or at: Course Search

Applying for DARE

For information about the process of applying to DARE including the deadlines and criteria, please check the Access College website: www.accesscollege.ie

We would encourage all applicants with learning difference/health conditions/disabilities who apply through the CAO to indicate and give details of their learning difference/health condition/disability. Giving this information is confidential and will not adversely affect their application in any way.

How are IT Tralee DARE Offers made?

You will be notified by email of the outcome of your DARE application by the end of June. For detailed information on the outcome of your DARE application,  log into the ‘My Application’ section of www.cao.ie.  If you do not receive any correspondence by July 1, contact a member of the DARE team. Full details of a recheck process are available on the DARE website: www.accesscollege.ie
If you are eligible for DARE you will then be considered for a DARE reduced points place under certain criteria.

To be considered for a DARE reduced points place, applicants must meet the DARE eligibility criteria and the course entry requirements.

Students with sensory disabilities (such as visual or hearing impairments) and students with physical disabilities will be prioritised when allocating DARE places.

DARE reduced points and merit offers are made through CAO and are in Round 1.

If there are places still available some reduced points offers are made in Round 2.

If you get a DARE reduced points offer this will appear as a regular offer online through the CAO.

You will then receive a letter from the Institute to inform you that you have received a DARE offer.

If you accept the place you must present to the Disability Support Service (DSS) and attend the DSS Orientation as these are part of the conditions of the DARE offer.

IT Tralee has a guideline quota of 5% of reduced points DARE places on all first year full time undergraduate programmes with the exception of the BSc General/Mental Health Nursing (Level 8).  Two places in total are allocated on the nursing programmes each year i.e. one place is allocated to DARE on the Mental Health Nursing programme and one place is allocated to DARE on the General Nursing programme.  Many DARE students get enough points for the course of their choice each year.

• It is important to note that DARE is an admissions scheme and students may be eligible for supports even if they are not eligible for DARE.
• We recommend that those students who are eligible for DARE and get enough points for their course should still present to the Disability Support Service (DSS).
• Students who received a reduced points DARE place must present to ITT DSS as a condition of their offer.
• Please note if students declare through the CAO that they have a learning difference, health condition or disability, they must still present to the DSS in order to get supports if they come to IT Tralee.
• More information about the DSS support and applying for reasonable accommodations is available in our Student Guides:
  • Guide for Students with a Physical or Sensory Disability, a Mental Health or Significant Health Condition
  • Handbook for Students with Learning Difference including Students with Dyslexia

Every year the ITT Disability Support Service will organise information evenings on the DARE application process and will also be present to answer queries about DARE at a range of events.  We advise students and parents to attend a DARE advice clinic which goes through the application process for that year:

• IT Tralee Open Day - 25^th October 2019 from 9.30am to 1.00pm.  There will be a DARE/IT Tralee DSS information stand at this event (www.ittralee.ie/openday).

• IT Tralee Information Seminar on Disability and Learning Support Services – Thursday, 19th November 2019, 10am – 1pm, North Campus, Dromtacker, Tralee. Book your place by emailing access@ittralee.ie

• Nationwide HEAR/DARE Application Information Day.
  Date: 11th January 2020
  Venue: Solas Building, IT Tralee, North Campus, Dromtacker, Tralee Time: 10am-2pm

Applicants can attend any of the Nationwide Application Information Events download the HEAR/DARE Handbook for full details.

We recommend that queries about DARE in IT Tralee should be communicated by e-mail to dare@ittralee.ie  (please make sure to provide your name, date of birth and CAO number in your email).

For Further Information:

Disability Support Service for students with Disabilities/Learning Difference/Health Conditions