Ireland

The European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020 and the Statutory Instrument No. 636/2023 regulating the private sector are Irelands’s landmark legislations on digital accessibility. The National Disability Authority is responsible for overseeing compliance for the public sector, while the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is responsible for supervising the private sector.

What it includes

The Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies mandate states that a wide range of digital content and services must be accessible to individuals with disabilities.

• For new websites published after the regulations come into effect, compliance is required immediately
• For new websites published after the regulations come into effect, compliance is required immediately
• Existing websites of public sector bodies published before 23 September 2018 must comply by 23 September 2020
• For mobile applications of public sector bodies, compliance is required from 23 June 2021 regardless of the publication date

The Statutory Instrument No. 636/2023 establishes clear guidelines for a wide range of products and services in the private sector. These include:

• Consumer general purpose computer hardware systems and operating systems for those hardware systems
• Self-service terminals (payment terminals; automated teller machines; ticketing machines; check-in machines)
• Interactive self-service terminals providing information, excluding terminals installed as integrated parts of vehicles, aircrafts, ships or rolling stock
• Consumer terminal equipment with interactive computing capability, used for electronic communications services
• Consumer terminal equipment with interactive computing capability, used for accessing audiovisual media services
• E-readers

The regulation applies to the following services provided to consumers on or after 28 June 2025:

• Electronic communications services, other than transmission services used for the provision of machine-to-machine services
• Services providing access to audiovisual media services

Elements of air passenger transport services, bus passenger transport services, rail passenger transport services and waterborne passenger transport services, other than the transport services. These elements include:

• Websites
• Mobile device-based services including mobile applications
• Electronic tickets and electronic ticketing services
• Delivery of transport service information, including real-time travel information
• Interactive self-service terminals located within the territory of the Union, other than those installed as integrated parts of vehicles, aircrafts, ships and rolling stock used in the provision of any part of such passenger transport services

The following elements of urban and suburban transport services and regional transport services:

• Interactive self-service terminals located within the territory of the Union, other than those installed as integrated parts of vehicles and rolling stock used in the provision of any part of such passenger transport services

Further, the private sector regulation covers:

• Consumer banking services
• E-books and dedicated software
• E-commerce services

The regulation also applies to answering emergency communications to the single European emergency number ‘112’ on or after 28 June 2025.

Exceptions

There are specific exceptions for the public sector:

• Public service broadcasters and their subsidiaries, and entities serving public broadcasting roles
• NGOs that do not provide essential public services or services aimed at disabled individuals
• Specific content types such as older office files, pre-recorded media, live media, and non-essential online maps
• Content not controlled by the public sector, third-party contributions, heritage items that could be damaged by making them accessible, and older extranet and intranet content until a significant revision occurs
• Archived web and mobile content no longer active or edited after 23 September 2019

The private sector regulation does not apply to the following content of websites and mobile applications:

• Pre-recorded time-based media published before 28 June 2025
• Office file formats published before 28 June 2025
• Online maps and mapping services, if essential information is provided in an accessible digital manner for maps intended for navigational use
• Third-party content that is neither funded, developed by, or under the control of, the economic operator concerned
• Content of websites and mobile applications qualifying as archives, meaning that they only contain content that is not updated or edited on or after 28 June 2025

Fines and penalties

Ireland’s digital accessibility regulation enforces compliance through a system of penalties, designed to incentivize adherence to accessibility standards. Depending on the severity and nature of the violation, organizations and public entities may face

• “Class A” fines of 5,000 euros or up to 6 months in jail
• Serious violations can result in fines of up to 60,000 euros and/or 18 months in jail
• Directors, managers, secretaries, or persons acting in such capacities may be held personally liable for accessibility issues
• Consumers have the right to file legal action

Reporting

• Must be detailed, comprehensive, and clearly state the website or mobile application’s compliance with the regulations
• Presented in an accessible format
• Prepared using the model accessibility statement from Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1523
• Published on the respective website or available with the mobile application

Content of the Accessibility Statement:

• Explanation of non-accessible content, reasons for the inaccessibility, and accessible alternatives if available
• Description of and link to a feedback mechanism
• Link to the redress or complaint procedures under the Equal Status Act 2000 and the Disability Act 2005

Response Obligation:

• Public sector bodies are required to respond adequately to notifications or requests about accessibility within a reasonable timeframe
• These statements are not only a compliance measure but also a crucial step toward fostering a digital landscape that is inclusive for all users

For the latest and most accurate information on digital accessibility requirements, please refer to the official documentation for Ireland’s private and public regulations.