CAO evidence deadlines do not move to suit anyone's diary. They land in March each year, and a proper diagnostic report takes real time to arrange — an assessment, a written report, sometimes a wait for an appointment. If a DARE application is part of this year's plan, the time to start is now, not in February.
By Dr Shaeraine Raaj, MRCPsych, Consultant Psychiatrist. Last reviewed: 16 October 2026.
What is the DARE scheme, briefly?
DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) is a college admissions scheme that offers reduced-points places to school leavers whose disability has had an impact on their second-level education. ADHD is one of the conditions that can qualify a student to apply, alongside a wider list of specific learning difficulties, physical and sensory disabilities, and mental health conditions.
What kind of report does a DARE application generally need?
DARE needs evidence from a consultant psychiatrist, psychologist, neurologist or paediatrician, either an existing report or DARE's own Evidence of Disability Form. A diagnosis from a GP alone is not accepted.
Does a DARE report need to be recent?
For ADHD, the evidence must be less than three years old (for the 2027 cycle, dated after 1 February 2024). If your only existing diagnosis is an old one, it is worth checking directly with DARE or your school's guidance counsellor whether it will be accepted as it stands, or whether a more recent report will be needed — rather than assuming either way.
When does DARE evidence need to be submitted?
For 2027 entry: apply to the CAO by 1 February 2027, complete the DARE section of the CAO form by 1 March, and post the supporting documents to arrive by 10 March 2027 (5pm). Because a full diagnostic assessment, a written report, and sometimes an appointment wait can all take weeks, leaving this until close to the deadline is the single most common way families run out of time. Starting the process in fifth year, or early in sixth year, gives the most room if anything about the assessment takes longer than expected.
How can MindBridge help with a DARE application?
MindBridge's Teen ADHD assessment, for 16- and 17-year-olds, is described as producing a DARE-accepted report: €1,300, by video. The assessment is consultant-psychiatrist-led, and the written report is intended to give the kind of documented, professional evidence a DARE application generally looks for.
Not every teenager who is assessed receives an ADHD diagnosis — the assessment establishes what is actually the case, and the written report reflects that finding either way. We would always recommend checking the current year's exact DARE and CAO requirements directly at accesscollege.ie or cao.ie before booking, so you know precisely what evidence is being asked for this year.
Need help now? In an emergency call 999 or 112, or go to your nearest emergency department. Samaritans: call 116 123, free, 24 hours a day. Text About It: free-text HELLO to 50808, 24/7. More ways to get urgent help, on hse.ie
About this article
This article is general information. It is not medical or legal advice and it cannot tell you whether you have a condition. It does not replace an assessment by a qualified clinician, and reading it does not make you a patient of MindBridge Medical. DARE and CAO requirements change; always check the current year's rules directly with DARE/CAO before relying on anything stated here.
If you are worried about your health, speak to your GP or another registered clinician. In an emergency call 999 or 112, or go to your nearest emergency department.
Written by Dr Shaeraine Raaj, MRCPsych, Consultant Psychiatrist.
Medically reviewed by Dr Shaeraine Raaj, MRCPsych, Consultant Psychiatrist (Irish Medical Council 409852, Specialist Division). Reviewed 16 October 2026.
Last reviewed: 16 October 2026. How we review our content
Considering a teen assessment: Teen ADHD assessment →