Disadvantaged students are missing out on college access

Students from fee-paying schools are making far more applications to a college access programme for disabilities than those from the much larger number of disadvantaged schools.

The figures emerge from analysis of applications to the Disability Access Route to Education (Dare) scheme, under which 18 third-level colleges allow students with certain disabilities entry to courses with Leaving Certificate points lower than other entrants. They have to apply separately from their submissions to the CAO and supply a range of supporting documents.

Of 2,161 applicants to Dare in 2010 and 2,531 in 2011, NUI Maynooth’s acting director of access Rose Ryan found that almost one-in-four of those who met the criteria came from students in 55 fee-paying and eight “grind” schools.