Accessibility Statement

Public sector bodies must prepare and regularly update a detailed, comprehensive and clear Accessibility Statement on the compliance of their websites and mobile applications with the European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020. (2020 Regulations).  The 2020 Regulations transpose the “Directive (EU) 2016/2102 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies”. 

Writing an Accessibility Statement for your website or mobile application (app)

The Accessibility Statement must be displayed in a prominent position on all pages on a website and from within the mobile application.

The 2020 Regulations require that the Accessibility Statement is provided in an accessible format and is based on the Model Accessibility Template in Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1523.  

The purpose of the Accessibility Statement is to describe the website or mobile app’s compliance with the accessibility requirements and to provide helpful information to anyone who may need it.  This information includes:

    • a statement of compliance of the website or mobile app with the 2020 Regulations
    • a description of the inaccessible parts of the website or mobile app,
    • advice on how a person can ask for assistance, provide feedback or make a complaint in relation to the accessibility of the website or mobile app.
    • in an accessible format;
    • prepared using the model accessibility statement, outlined below
    • in the case of a website, be published on the website concerned
    • in the case of a mobile app, be published on the website of the public sector body that developed the mobile app or alongside other information available when downloading the application

What the Accessibility Statement must contain

Under the 2020 Regulations, the Accessibility Statement for a website or mobile app must be:

The Accessibility Statement must provide an explanation about those parts of the website or mobile application that are not accessible, the reasons for that inaccessibility and, where appropriate, the accessible alternatives provided.

 Feedback, redress and complaints mechanism

The Accessibility Statement must contain a description of, and a link to, a feedback mechanism.

The feedback mechanism must enable any person to notify the public sector body of any failure any of its website or mobile app to comply with the accessibility requirements set out in the 2020 Regulations.

The feedback mechanism must also enable any person to request information and assistance in relation to those parts of the content that is inaccessible. 

The Accessibility Statement must also link to the relevant redress and complaints provisions under either the Equal Status Act 2000 (No. 8 of 2000) and the Disability Act 2005 (No. 14 of 2005) or both.

Advice on making a complaint under the Disability Act is available on the website of the Office of the Ombudsman.

Advice on making a complaint under the Equal Status Act is available on the website of the Workplace Relations Commission.

Public sector bodies must give an adequate response to a notification or request within a reasonable period of time.

Preparing the Accessibility Statement

The public sector body must ensure that it provides accurate information on its compliance with the 2020 Regulations.  The statement of compliance should be based on one of the following:

    • a self-assessment done by the public sector body;
    • an assessment carried out by a third party.

Structure of the Accessibility Statement

The accessibility Statement must be prepared using the following structure, as per the Model Accessibility Statement.

Accessibility Statement

Insert the appropriate text in the square brackets.

[Name of public sector body] is committed to making its [website(s)] [and] [mobile application(s)] accessible, in accordance with European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020.

This accessibility statement applies to […].

Compliance Status

Choose one of the three options below

1. [This] [These] [website(s)] [mobile application(s)] [is] [are] fully compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 level AA.

2. [This] [These] [website(s)] [mobile application(s)] [is] [are] partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 level AA , due to [the non-compliance(s)] [and/or] [the exemptions] listed below.

[This] [These] [website(s)] [mobile application(s)] [is] [are] not compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 level AA. The [non-compliance(s)] [and/or] [the exemptions] are listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reason(s):

B) Disproportionate burden

C) The content is not within the scope of the applicable legislation

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on [date].

The statement was prepared by [method to prepare the statement]

The statement was last reviewed on [insert date of latest review].

Feedback and contact information

[Provide a description of, and a link to, the feedback mechanism to be used to notify the public sector body of any compliance failures and to request information and content excluded from the scope of the 2020 Regulations.]

[Provide the contact information of the relevant entity, unit, or person responsible for accessibility and for processing requests sent through the feedback mechanism.]

Enforcement procedure

[Provide a description of, and a link to the redress or complaint provisions, or both, as the case may be, under the Equal Status Act 2000 (No. 8 of 2000) and/or the Disability Act 2005 (No. 14 of 2005) to the extent to which they apply to the body concerned ”].

[Provide contact information of the relevant enforcement body].

Optional Content for the Statement

Your Accessibility Statement may also contain the following additional information:

  • An explanation of the commitment to digital accessibility
  • Endorsement of the statement (administrative or political)
  • Date of publication of the website and/or mobile application
  • Date of last update of the website and or mobile application after substantial revision
  • Link to evaluation report (good to have if indicated as fully compliant)
  • Phone assistance for persons with disabilities and AT users
  • Any other content deemed appropriate