DARE Scheme

Supplementary Admissions Procedure for Applicants with a disability

As a means of widening participation in 3rd level, the Pontifical University, Maynooth and other participating colleges have developed a range of initiatives including supplementary admissions routes to education.

The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is an admissions scheme to promote equity of access to higher education for students with disabilities.

This scheme has been established as clear evidence shows that disability can have a negative impact on educational attainment at school and progression to higher education.

All applicants applying for full-time undergraduate degrees of the Pontifical University who wish to be considered for a DARE place must apply to the DARE scheme via the Central Applications Office (CAO).

Access Office
The Pontifical University has close links with the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. The two universities share the same campus and co-operate in a number of important academic programmes. 

The Pontifical University, Maynooth and NUI Maynooth share the same facilities on campus.  The NUIM Access Office caters for students of the National University of Ireland Maynooth and for students of the Pontifical University, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.

The DARE scheme will operate as follows:
DARE applicants who are unable to complete the online form must submit the paper application form and supporting documentation to the CAO by the required dates.

• Applicants should apply online at www.cao.ie as part of the CAO application process by 1 February indicating the Pontifical University, Maynooth as a college choice. Applicants must disclose a disability or specific learning difficulty on the appropriate section of the CAO application form and must indicate their wish to be considered for DARE by 1 February.
• Applicants must complete the separate online Supplementary Information Form which will ask them to provide additional information about their disability or specific learning difficulty (Sections A-C).

• Section A – applicants must complete a Personal Statement which outlines, from their perspective, the academic impact of the disability or specific learning difficulty.
  
• Section B – applicants must return to the CAO the Second Level Academic Reference completed by their school. This form provides background information on the applicant’s educational experience and helps to determine appropriate supports at third level.
  
• Section C – applicants must return to the CAO the Evidence of Disability Form completed by the accepted Medical Consultant/Specialist. This form provides verification of the applicant’s disability and helps to determine appropriate supports at third level. All applicants must complete this form with the exception of the following:
  
  • Applicants who have an existing report completed within the appropriate timeframe by the accepted Medical Consultant/Specialist. The report must contain the same detail as the Evidence of Disability Form.
  • Applicants with specific learning difficulties who must provide a full psycho-educational assessment completed by an appropriately qualified psychologist. The report must be less than 3 years old i.e. must be dated after 1st February 2008.

Applicants must submit all of the required supporting documentation to the CAO by 1st April.

For further information on the DARE scheme see http://accesscollege.ie

ELIGIBILITY - Disability Access Route to Education (DARE)

Applicants are deemed eligible for consideration under the DARE scheme if the following criteria are met:

• Student has applied through the CAO to the DARE scheme by 1st February and has submitted all required supporting documentation to the CAO by 1st April.
• Specific disability documentation provided is deemed acceptable and there is a significant impact on educational performance due to the impact of disability/specific learning difficulty.
• Eligible applicants must satisfy (i) the DARE criteria plus (ii) Pontifical University matriculation requirements & any specific course requirements.

1. Grade C3 or higher in 2 Higher Level subjects & Grade D3 or higher in 4 Ordinary or Higher Level Subjects including English, Irish and a third language.

2. Any specific subject requirements for the course (e.g. Music requires a HC3.)

Please see our prospectus for course requirements: http://www.maynoothcollege.ie/prospective/prospectus.shtml

• Applicants must have attained at least 300 points in their best six Leaving Certificate subjects.
• The maximum Leaving Certificate concession for eligible applicants is 30 points.
• Where demand for places exceeds the number of places available, places will be awarded on the basis of academic merit.
• Appropriate orientation programmes for students will be provided and will take place prior to the College’s general orientation programme. Attendance at this orientation (Launchpad) for students who are offered a place through the DARE/HEAR scheme is compulsory.

• Launchpad dates for the 2011-2012 academic year: (to be confirmed).

• In the case of DARE permission to combine the results from two sittings of the Leaving Certificate may be given in exceptional circumstances where it is viewed that students have been exceptionally disadvantaged due to disability at second level.

Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) – Quota of places available:

• 4% of 1st year intake at the Pontifical University, Maynooth will be available to students with disabilities (combined merit and reduced points places).
  
  

Contacts
Admissions Office:
Pontifical University, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare
http://www.maynoothcollege.ie/prospective/index.shtml
Tel: +353 1 708 4772 | Fax: +353 1 708 3441
E-mail: admissions@spcm.ie

Pontifical University/NUIM Access Office:
DARE: Rose Ryan, Disability Officer,
MAP Lodge, NUIM, Maynooth, Co. Kildare,
http://access.nuim.ie/disability
Tel: +353 1 7086341 | Fax: +353 1 7083838
E-mail: rosario.ryan@nuim.ie