940. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason an application to DARE refused for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49447/26]

I would like to wish Kayla well in her Leaving Certificate.  In relation to your question, I hosted a briefing on the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) recently in Leinster House, at which the Irish Universities Association (IUA) advised that they administer the scheme on behalf of the higher education institutions who set the policy criteria for the scheme. Further information on IUA is available on []www.iua.ie/.

Admissions under the scheme are regulated by the higher education institutions themselves. Each institution determines its own admissions policy in relation to the scheme, the number of places they reserve and the allocation of those places.

Applications to the scheme are submitted to the Central Applications Office (CAO) who coordinate the scheme for participating institutions. Therefore, it does not come within the remit of my Department and it is not open to my Officials or I to intervene in individual cases.

Any requests for more detailed information about DARE should be directed to the Central Applications Office (CAO) www.cao.ie who coordinate the scheme for participating institutions.

DARE uses a Review and Appeals process to make sure that all DARE applicants are treated fairly, and the assessment procedures have been applied consistently. Further information on the Review and Appeals process is available at:

[]www.accesscollege.ie/dare/making-an-application/dare-review-and-appeals/.

At this recent briefing, the IUA advised that the quickest way to get information on an application or discuss an application, is to contact the Higher Education Institution to which the applicant has applied.

https://accesscollege.ie/dare/participating-colleges/.

I trust this clarifies the matter.