Note: Click on the SAVE buttons as you move through the application form. This will afford you more time to answer all the questions. At the end of the application form, click submit.

Section 1. Address

Enter your current home address.
Please note that you may be contacted and requested to provide evidence of your address. For information on filling in your address or to see what evidence of address may be requestedClick here for helpOpens in a new window











Section 2. Second Level School

Use the drop down menus to select which county you went to second level school in and what second level school you attended. If your school is not listed select: My School is Not Listed.Click here for helpOpens in a new window



Selected School:
No. of years attended:
 

If you went to more than one second level school, use the drop down menus below to enter details of your previous schools. If your previous school is outside the Republic of Ireland select: School Outside Republic of Ireland



HEAR verifies your attendance with the Department of Education and Skills (DES). In order to do that you must enter your PPS Number in the box below. If your attendance at the school(s) selected above cannot be verified with DES, HEAR will be in contact with you to seek alternative evidence to confirm attendance.

Please enter your PPS number:

By entering my PPS Number above I give permission to HEAR to directly verify it with the DES.


Section 3. Medical Card/GP Visit Card

Do you or your parent(s) or guardian(s) have a HSE medical card/GP visit card that is in date on 31 December 2025? Click here for helpOpens in a new window




(Click to save your details and continue on to complete the form.)


Section 4. Priority Groups and Applicants who have experienced homelessness

This section is for applicants who wish to apply under one or more of the following:
  • In Care of the State (HEAR Priority Group)
  • Member of the Traveller Community (HEAR Priority Group)
  • Member of the Roma Community (HEAR Priority Group)
  • Young Parent Applicants (HEAR Priority Group)
  • Applicants who experienced homelessness
Do you wish to be considered under one or more of the categories on the list above?



Section 5. Family Dependants

Enter each dependant's name, date of birth and the name of school or college they are attending (if any). Click here for helpOpens in a new window

A dependant includes:
  • a sibling under the age of 16 years on 1 October 2025
  • a sibling over the age of 16 years who is on 1 October 2025 either:
    • attending post primary education
    • attending a full time course in FET or higher education
    • medically certified as permanently unfit for work
  • a parent attending a full time course in FET or higher education
Enter the number of dependants in your family:
Do not include (count) yourself in this section.



(Click to save your details and continue on to complete the form.)


Section 6. Family Financial Circumstances

Please note this section relates to the year 2024 only Click here for helpOpens in a new window

  • HEAR requires evidence of a full year's income for 2024 (i.e. 52 weeks).
  • Some applicants depending on their parent(s)'/guardian(s)' circumstances in 2024 may need to submit Revenue documents and/or evidence of other income as well as evidence of Department of Social Protection (DSP) income.
  • Your guardian may not necessarily be your legal guardian, but refers to who you lived with and contributed to the household income in 2024.
  • If you have indicated income from both parents you must submit documents detailing both their incomes.
  • Where an applicant's supporting documents shows a household income of less than €10,000 for 2024: In setting it's criteria, HEAR takes advice from experts in budgetary and personal finance from state bodies and other organisations. These experts advised HEAR that where an applicant evidences a total income of less than €10,000, it is highly unlikely that the applicant has provided a full picture of their household income for the full year 2024 (i.e. 52 weeks).

    In such cases, applicants should provide clarifying third party documentary information as to why supporting documents shows income of less than €10,000. Where an applicant has not done so, an applicant may not be eligible for HEAR. (This is not required by those living in Direct Provision Centres.)
  • Northern Ireland/UK Income: Parents/guardians in receipt of income from employment from Northern Ireland/UK can submit a Statement of Earnings and Tax (issued by His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC)) covering the period April 2023 - March 2024 or April 2024 - March 2025. Parents/guardians in receipt of self-employment income can submit a Notice of Assessment or Self-Assessment document issued by HMRC (April 2023 - March 2024 or April 2024 - March 2025) showing total income.

Select who contributes to your family's income.

Mother
Father
Guardian1
Guardian2




Section 7. Eligibility Carry Forward

Please do not complete this section if you did not apply or were not eligible to the HEAR scheme last year (2025).

If you applied to CAO in 2025 and you were deemed eligible for HEAR in 2025 then your HEAR eligibility can be carried forward to your application for entry in 2026. You must enter your correct 2025 CAO application number in the box provided. Click here for helpOpens in a new window

CAO 2025 Application Number:
By carrying forward your HEAR 2025 eligibility, you are agreeing to share your HEAR 2025 application information with the HEAR participating colleges that you may apply to, for entry 2026. You must be under the age of 23 as of 1 January 2026 to carry forward HEAR eligibility from 2025 to 2026.



Supporting Document Checklist

Copies of the documents below should be posted to CAO before 17:00 on 10th March 2026.
 
HEAR Applications 2026,
CAO,
Tower House,
Eglinton Street,
Galway.

Type of IncomeForDocuments Required

IMPORTANT
- Keep Original Documents
- Get a Certificate of Posting as proof

postit


Your Application will not be complete unless you submit the above documents to the CAO by 17:00 on 10th March 2026. For more information on the documents listed on your checklist refer to the HEAR Handbook.

  • HEAR requires evidence of a full year's income for 2024 (i.e. 52 weeks). Some applicants depending on their parent(s)'/guardian(s)' circumstances in 2024 may need to submit Revenue documents and/or evidence of other income as well as evidence of Department of Social Protection (DSP) income.
  • If you have indicated income from both parents/guardians you must submit documents detailing both their incomes.
  • Submit clear copies of your supporting documents to HEAR Applications 2026, CAO, Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway by 17:00 on 10th March 2026.
  • Where an applicant's supporting documents shows a household income of less than €10,000 for 2024: In setting it's criteria, HEAR takes advice from experts in budgetary and personal finance from state bodies and other organisations. These experts advised HEAR that where an applicant evidences a total income of less than €10,000, it is highly unlikely that the applicant has provided a full picture of their household income for the full year 2024 (i.e. 52 weeks).

    In such cases, applicants should provide clarifying third party documentary information as to why supporting documents shows income of less than €10,000. Where an applicant has not done so, an applicant may not be eligible for HEAR. (This is not required by those living in Direct Provision Centres.)
  • Northern Ireland/UK Income: Parents/guardians in receipt of income from employment from Northern Ireland/UK can submit a Statement of Earnings and Tax (issued by His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC)) covering the period April 2023 - March 2024 or April 2024 - March 2025. Parents/guardians in receipt of self-employment income can submit a Notice of Assessment or Self-Assessment document issued by HMRC (April 2023 - March 2024 or April 2024 - March 2025) showing total income.