The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) gives neurodivergent school leavers reduced-points access to participating Irish colleges and universities. Discover what evidence of ADHD is required, the strict deadlines you cannot miss, and how to give your teen a fair shot at third level.
DARE only accepts reports under 3 years old, signed by a consultant specialist. GP letters are not enough.
DARE, the Disability Access Route to Education, is a third-level alternative admissions scheme for school leavers whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second-level education. It is operated jointly by participating Irish universities and colleges through the CAO.
The headline benefit is reduced CAO points. An eligible student may be offered a place on a participating course even if they do not achieve the full standard points required, provided they still meet the minimum entry requirements for that course.
For students whose ADHD affects executive functioning, concentration, and exam performance, DARE acts as a vital equaliser. It ensures they are not unfairly penalised by a neurotypical testing structure and reflects what they could realistically achieve with appropriate support.
DARE applications need both clinical evidence of ADHD and school-level evidence of educational impact. Both must be submitted on time.
DARE is for first-time CAO applicants applying for participating undergraduate courses at Irish universities and colleges.
Section C must be completed by a Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Neurologist or Paediatrician. A GP letter is not accepted.
The clinical report must be dated within 3 years of the application date. Older reports must be updated or re-issued.
The school must complete the Educational Impact Statement (Section B), showing how ADHD has affected the student's schooling.
The specialist either completes Section C of the DARE form or provides a full assessment report on headed paper meeting the criteria.
CAO closes in early March, and DARE supporting documents must reach the CAO by mid-March. Late submissions are not accepted.
The DARE Evidence of Disability form is restrictive about who can sign Section C — only a relevant specialist or GP can complete it (not a psychologist). Our Child ADHD Assessment is consultant-led and produces evidence written specifically for college disability schemes, before the March deadline.
DARE is strict about who can sign off on ADHD evidence. Knowing what is accepted up front saves families weeks of stress.
| Source of Evidence | Accepted by DARE? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Consultant Psychiatrist report | Accepted | Gold-standard evidence for adolescent ADHD with full diagnostic detail |
| Chartered Psychologist report | Accepted | Must clearly diagnose ADHD using recognised criteria (DSM-5 / ICD) |
| Consultant Neurologist or Paediatrician | Accepted | Acceptable where the specialist made or confirmed the ADHD diagnosis |
| Report dated over 3 years ago | Needs Update | Must be re-issued, refreshed or re-signed by an appropriate specialist |
| GP letter or referral | Not Accepted | DARE does not accept GP-only documentation for ADHD evidence |
| School report alone | Not Accepted | School evidence supports the Impact Statement; it cannot replace clinical evidence |
DARE rules are published annually on accesscollege.ie. Always confirm the current eligibility criteria and acceptable evidence list before applying.
DARE runs alongside the standard CAO application. The steps below walk you through what your teen, school and specialist each need to do.
Arrange or refresh a specialist ADHD assessment so your teen has a clinical report dated within the last 3 years.
Submit the CAO application by the early March deadline, ticking the box that confirms a DARE application.
The school completes the Educational Impact Statement (Section B). The specialist completes the Evidence of Disability (Section C).
Upload all supporting documents to the CAO portal by the published mid-March cut-off. Late documents are not reviewed.
Public waiting lists for child and adolescent ADHD assessments can stretch for years. The safest move is to get your teen's report sorted early, ideally around December of 6th Year, rather than scrambling close to the mid-March DARE deadline. If the report is missing or out of date and you join a public list at the last minute, you risk missing the deadline entirely and the application is rejected. Our consultant-led team delivers comprehensive, DARE-recognised diagnostic reports in weeks rather than years, with all the detail needed for Section C.
The questions parents and students ask us most often about applying to DARE with an ADHD diagnosis.
Yes. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) is one of the disabilities recognised by DARE, provided the student can show both a current clinical diagnosis and the negative impact on their second-level education through the Educational Impact Statement.
No. DARE will not accept a GP letter as evidence of ADHD. Section C must be completed by a Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Neurologist or Paediatrician, or backed by a comprehensive report from one of those specialists on headed paper.
The clinical report must be less than 3 years old at the time of application. For example, a student applying through DARE in 2026 needs an assessment dated on or after 1 February 2023. If your teen's report is older, it will need to be refreshed by an appropriate specialist.
The CAO application itself closes in early March of the Leaving Cert year, and all DARE supporting documentation (Sections B and C, plus any reports) must reach the CAO by mid-March. These deadlines are absolute, late submissions are not reviewed.
Our specialist multidisciplinary team understands DARE deadlines. We deliver comprehensive, neuro-affirming diagnostic reports that meet the CAO's requirements for Evidence of Disability, without years on a public list.
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