ITB REACH FORM
Entry September 2016
What is the REACH Programme?
The REACH programme is an admissions scheme which offers places on ITB’s courses on reduced points, to school leavers from
socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Who Can Apply?
REACH is open to school leavers (under the age of 23) on the 1st January 2016, who have completed an Irish Leaving Certificate.
REACH applicants are assessed on their financial, social and cultural status. Eligibility for participation in the programme is not
dependent on the school you attend or the designation that your school may have. Applications are welcome from any student
who meets the criteria for the programme.
Benefits:
ITB has a reserved a number of places on its courses for REACH students at reduced leaving certificate points. The places are
spread across all our courses and consequently a student may not be offered their first course choice, but might be offered a
subsequent choice. The order of preference on the CAO application form should at all times reflect your genuine preference
choice. Applicants must also meet the minimum course entry requirements to be considered for one of the reduced points
places.
Eligibility:
In addition to meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course, REACH applicants are assessed on their financial, social
and cultural status. The following are considered to assess eligibility:

Your family income.

Whether your family received means-tested payments from the Dept. of Social Protection for at least 26 weeks in
2014.

Whether you belong to a group that is under-represented in higher education based on the occupation and
employment status of your parents or guardians. Under-represented socio-economic groups are non-manual workers,
semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers and agricultural workers.

Whether you have completed five years in a second level school that takes part in the Delivery Equality of
Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) scheme run by the Department of Education & Skills.

Whether you live in an area in which there is concentrated disadvantage – i.e. high unemployment, poverty and very
few facilities in the community.
How applications are assessed?
Applicants are assessed based on the submitted application form, the academic reference and supporting documentation
submitted.
The criteria used to select students for the programme are
(a) Financial circumstances;
(b) Social background;
(c) Personal statement;
(d) Leaving Certificate results and
(e) Reference completed by the School Principal or Guidance Counsellor.
Academic Reference:
The applicant must ensure that the Reference section is completed in detail by the School Principal/Year Head/Form
Teacher/Guidance Counsellor. This reference is a vital tool used in the selection process and must be submitted to support your
application. If your school wishes the reference to remain confidential, it should be noted in the School Reference section of the
application form and the reference can be submitted directly to the ITB Access Officer.
Supporting Documentation:
We need to be able to assess the total family income. The documentation you will need to submit will depend on your family
circumstances (i.e. employed, self-employed or unemployed). If you have applied to the HEAR scheme, and sign accordingly
in Section 2 to allow ITB to access your supporting financial information submitted to the CAO under the HEAR scheme you do
not need to complete the Financial Information Section 2 of this REACH application form.

Employed or Self-Employed:
If your parent(s) received an income from employment, self-employment, land, farming or renting property you should
submit a P21 or a Notice of Assessment for 2014. Submit all pages including front and back. If your parent(s) are exempt
from paying tax, provide a tax exempt letter from Revenue. Supply document for both parents. If you parents are jointly
assessed one document is sufficient.
What is a P21?
A P21 is a statement of total income, tax credits and tax paid for a particular year for people in paid employment who pay
all of their income tax under PAYE. You do not automatically receive a P21 statement from Revenue, you must request
this document. Your P60 will not be accepted. The quickest and easiest way to get your parent(s) P21 is to request it
online at www.revenue.ie.
What is a Notice of Assessment?
A Notice of Assessment would have been sent out when your parent(s) completed their Pay and File tax return for 2014.
Contact your local Revenue Office or www.revenue.ie for more information.

Unemployed:
If your parent(s) received an income from The Department of Social Protection (DSP) in the year ending 31st December
2014, complete page 3 of the application form ensuring that the following information is provided:

The total amount of social welfare income received in 2014;

The name of the person(s) receiving the payment;

The name of the payment(s) received.
Application:
Please note that students who wish to be considered for the REACH Programme must;
(a) have made an application through the CAO
(b) complete the ITB REACH application form
(c) meet the minimum entry requirements for the relevant courses, (i.e. required number of passes, individual subject
requirements), details of which are published in the institute’s prospectus and on this website.
Completed applications are to be submitted to:
Adrienne Harding
The Access Officer,
ITB,
Blanchardstown Road North,
Blanchardstown,
Dublin 15.
Closing Date:
The closing date for receipt of applications is
12noon on Monday 18th April 2016
ITB REACH FORM
Entry September 2016
Completed forms to be returned to The Access Office, ITB, Blanchardstown Road North, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
before 12noon on Monday 18th April 2016
APPLICANT INFORMATION
Surname:
First Name:
Address:
Date of Birth:
Phone No:
Email address:
CAO Number
Medical Card?
YES
Have you applied to the HEAR Scheme?
NO
Please tick:
Medical Card No:
YES
NO
FAMILY
To determine your income limits we need to know the number of dependents in your family (As well as your parents, include anyone under
16, or over 16 if still in fulltime education)
Name of family member
DOB
Relationship to
applicant
Highest level of education
(i.e. junior cert, leaving
cert, third level)
Currently Occupation or
place of study
COURSE CHOICES
Please list the ITB courses for which you are applying for under the REACH programme in order of preference (e.g. BN001). These
courses must also be listed on your CAO application form.
Level 6 / 7
Level 8
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1
2
2
3
3
4
4
1
SECOND LEVEL EDUCATION
Primary School:
Years attended:
Secondary
School:
Years attended:
PERSONAL STATEMENT (ADD AN ADDITIONAL SHEET OF PAPER, IF REQUIRED)
Why do you think you should be offered a place on the REACH Programme?
DISCLAIMER AND SIGNATURE
I certify that my answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge.
I consent that ITB may check my CAO application and access course choice information and any documentation submitted to support my
application for the HEAR scheme.
I understand that my application (and supporting documentation) may be reviewed by an independent advisor.
I understand that some details on my application may be used for research purposes but that my name will never be used.
Signature
Date
2
ITB REACH FORM – INCOME FOR 2014
Financial Information
If you have already applied to the HEAR scheme, you do not need to complete this
Financial Information section. Simply sign below and proceed to Section 3 – School Reference.
If you have not applied to the HEAR Scheme, you need to complete this page in full
FAMILY FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
In Employment and will Submit P21:
YES
NO
Unemployed and will compete this form:
I have submitted financial information to CAO in support of my HEAR application:
YES
YES
NO
NO
PART 1 – TO BE COMPLETED BY REACH APPLICANT
Student Name:
PPS No:
PART 2 – TO BE SIGNED BY THE APPLICANT’S PARENTS
I authorize the release of the information outlined below for the purpose of assessing a REACH applicant
Parent 1 /
Guardian 1:
Parent 2 /
Guardian 2:
PART 3 – TO BE COMPELTED BY A DSP OFFICIAL IN YOUR LOCAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICE
Parent/Guardian
Name:
Parent/Guardian
PPS No:
Type of
Payments
Amount of
Payment:
Type of
Payments
Type of
Payments
Amount of
Payment:
Amount of
Payment:
Total amount of Social Welfare Income from all social welfare schemes made
to the PPS number in 2014
Parent/Guardian
Name:
Parent/Guardian
PPS No:
Type of
Payments
Amount of
Payment:
Type of
Payments
Type of
Payments
Amount of
Payment:
Amount of
Payment:
Total amount of Social Welfare Income from all social welfare schemes made
to the PPS number in 2014
Signature of DSP
Official:
Official Stamp:
Date:
To be valid all forms must be completed, signed and stamped by a DSP Official. REACH is an admissions scheme which offers reduced points
places on ITB courses to school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged applicants.
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ITB REACH FORM
School Reference
THIS REFERENCE IS TO BE COMPLETED BY
YOUR SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR OF FORM/YEAR HEAD.
Student Name:
Relationship to
student:
The above named student is an ideal candidate for the ITB Reach Programme because:
Signature:
Date:
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5