Who Enforces European Accessibility Act Compliance in Ireland?

What is the European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act is an EU directive created to improve digital accessibility across a range of products and services for people with disabilities.

Ireland implemented the EAA through the European Union (Accessibility Requirements of Products and Services) Regulations 2023, also known as S.I. No. 636/2023. The regulations then came into effect on 28 June 2025.

So, the first step to understanding EAA compliance in Ireland is checking which products and services are covered by the regulation. These include:

• E-commerce services
• E-books and dedicated software
• Electronic communications services
• Consumer banking services
• Certain air, bus, rail and water passenger transport services
• Access to audiovisual media services
• Computers and operating systems
• Certain self-service terminals
• E-readers and other specified products

The requirements for European Accessibility Act compliance in Ireland are broader than simply checking whether a website has accessibility issues.

Businesses need to understand the EAA requirements, as they can vary based on company size and industry, for example. It’s also important to have procedures in place to maintain conformity as the service and relevant requirements change.

Who enforces the EAA in Ireland?

As we mentioned before, several Irish authorities have responsibilities under the EAA.

The authority responsible depends on the type of product or service your organisation provides.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the market surveillance authority for all products covered by the EAA. It is also the Irish compliance authority for e-commerce services, e-books and dedicated software.

Other services are regulated by different authorities.

EAA enforcement in Ireland began in June 2025. Only six months after its effective date, according to CCPC 2025 Report, 53 complaints were made under the Act.

This number represents how urgent it is to take digital accessibility in Ireland seriously. This is important because it can improve user experience for people with disabilities and also help businesses avoid legal risks and penalties.

Does the EAA apply to Irish SMEs?

The EAA requirements for Irish SMEs depend on the size of the business, the type of service it provides, and whether that service is covered by the EAA.

One of the most important points for businesses to understand is that being an SME does not automatically mean you are exempt from the EAA.

For microenterprises, the EAA provides two specific exemptions applying to companies that:

• Employ fewer than 10 people

• Have an annual turnover of no more than €2 million or an annual balance sheet total of no more than €2 million.

There is also an important difference between services and products.

To fully understand the requirements for microenterprises, read our article explaining What Is European Accessibility Act Compliance in Ireland for SMEs in 2026.

How does EAA enforcement work in Ireland?

As different authorities enforce the EAA in Ireland, the exact process depends on the authority and the type of product or service involved.

Under the European Union Regulations, the relevant authorities can investigate compliance and require businesses to provide information demonstrating that their products or services meet the applicable requirements.

Companies need to provide information to demonstrate conformity when requested. If a service is found non-compliant, then organisations will be required to take corrective measures to bring it into conformity.

This means that businesses should not think about website accessibility compliance only in terms of whether someone has found an accessibility issue on their website.

They should be able to demonstrate how accessibility is being managed within the organisations, having a clear accessibility process including:

• Which digital services are covered
• Which accessibility requirements apply
• What accessibility testing has been completed
• Which issues have been detected
• What corrective actions have been taken
• How accessibility is checked after changes are made

Keeping this information organised will make it easier to respond if the relevant authority asks for evidence of compliance.

What happens if a business does not comply with the EAA?

If an Irish authority finds the service non-compliant with the applicable accessibility requirements, there are several enforcement measures under the EAA in Ireland that companies should be aware of.

They’ll be required to take corrective measures to bring the product or service into conformity, which may include providing information or documentation to the relevant compliance authority.

If the non-conformance is categorised as an offence, then companies can be at risk of penalties under the Irish regulations.

A person who commits an offence under the regulations can, on summary conviction, face a Class A fine, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

On conviction on indictment, the penalty can be a fine of up to €60,000, imprisonment for up to 18 months, or both.

What does EAA compliance mean for a website?

To work towards EAA compliance in Ireland, you need to understand the role of the European standard EN 301 549, which sets out technical requirements to demonstrate accessibility.

This standard points to WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the relevant framework for digital content.

This is important because it gives organisations a practical way to analyse their websites against recognised accessibility guidelines. However, you should keep in mind that checking a website against WCAG is only one part of the wider EAA compliance process.

A useful way to start is by checking your homepage with the Nexus Inclusion Free Website Accessibility Checker.

It scans your homepage for accessibility issues and provides a report showing the areas that need attention. You can check your website without creating an account or entering payment details.

This is particularly helpful because the checker can give your team an initial view of your website's accessibility and help identify areas to investigate further.

EAA compliance is an ongoing process

The EAA has made website accessibility a more important compliance consideration for many businesses operating in Ireland.

If you are starting to work towards EAA compliance, it’s important to understand that digital accessibility needs to be considered at each phase of the process and as the service changes.

Regular testing can help teams detect new issues. Manual reviews can help uncover problems that automated tools sometimes miss. Clear documentation can help organisations understand what has been tested and what still needs attention. Continuous monitoring can help keep it all on track.

Ready to check where your website stands? Start with Nexus Inclusion’s free Website Accessibility Checker and get an initial view of the accessibility issues affecting your homepage.