Type of disabilityAppropriate documentationType of professionalRequired age of report
Dyslexia / Significant Literacy Difficulties*\nStudents may apply under ONE of the following categories:\n(A) Applicants who have a Psychological Assessment\nReport identifying Dyslexia OR\n(B) Applicants who have Significant Literacy\nDifficulties but do NOT have a Psychological Assessment\nReport identifying Dyslexia.(A) Applicants who have a Psychological Assessment Report identifying Dyslexia must submit this report. (B) Applicants who have Significant Literacy Difficulties but do NOT have a Psychological Assessment Report identifying Dyslexia must submit Section D School Statement.(A) Psychologist. (B) Special Educational Needs (SEN) Teacher and countersigned by Principal/Deputy Principal.No age limit.
Dyscalculia / Significant Numeracy Difficulties*Psychological Assessment Report.Psychologist.No age limit.

* Applicants with Dyslexia/ Significant Literacy Difficulties or Dyscalculia/ Significant Numeracy Difficulties must also submit attainment scores dated on or after 1 February 2025. These should be entered in Indicator 6 of the Educational Impact Statement (see DARE Handbook pages 23-24 or www.accesscollege.ie).

Important note for applicants to DARE with Dyslexia/ Significant Literacy Difficulties or Dyscalculia/ Significant Numeracy Difficulties.

Section C Evidence of Disability Form is not required for applicants to DARE with Dyslexia/ Significant Literacy Difficulties or Dyscalculia/ Significant Numeracy Difficulties.

A full Psychological Assessment Report OR Section D School Statement must be submitted as the evidence of disability documentation for applicants with Dyslexia/ Significant Literacy Difficulties. In addition, applicants must have two literacy attainment scores at or below the 10th percentile dated on or after 1 February 2025.

A full Psychological Assessment Report must be submitted for applicants with Dyscalculia/ Significant Numeracy Difficulties. In addition, applicants must have one numeracy attainment score at or below the 10th percentile dated on or after 1 February 2025.

These attainment scores can be from one (or a combination) of the following sources:

  • Scores from school-based attainment testing
  • Scores from attainment tests carried out by a psychologist.

Testing must have been carried out on or after 1 February 2025 and all applicants must submit an EIS completed by their school.

General Practitioner (GP) completing this form:

Applicants who have an existing diagnosis but have difficulty accessing the appropriate professional to get confirmation of the existing diagnosis or an updated report may ask their general practitioner (GP) to complete the Section C Evidence of Disability form. However, the following apply:

  • Your GP must have a clear diagnosis of your disability from one of the DARE appropriate specialists/consultants listed. A copy of a document in which your diagnosis is confirmed must be included in your application when using this GP verification. (See DARE Handbook page 28 or www.accesscollege.ie).
  • This document must be signed and dated by the appropriate specialist/consultant. If a time limit applies, the diagnosis or reconfirmation of diagnosis from the appropriate professional must have been made within that time limit.
  • Your GP does not need to give you a copy of your entire file – a single document which clearly names and confirms your diagnosis, is within the time limit (if one applies) AND is signed and dated by the appropriate specialist/consultant is sufficient.

For the purposes of DARE, only diagnoses made by a consultant/specialist are acceptable. A diagnosis made by a GP alone will not be acceptable and will lead to the applicant being made ineligible.

For GP Guidelines – See www.accesscollege.ie/dare-supportingdocuments.