Private and public organisations operating in Ireland have legal responsibilities to make their websites, apps, products and services accessible.
There are three main pieces of legislation to be aware of:
European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882): Accessibility requirements for certain products and services
European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 358/2020): Accessibility of public-sector websites and mobile applications
Disability Act 2005: Broader accessibility of public services and information
|
Regulation |
Who does it apply to? |
What does it cover? |
Exemptions |
|---|---|---|---|
|
European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) |
Organisations that provide products or services covered by the Act |
Products and services such as online shops, banking, e-books, electronic communications and some transport services |
Microenterprises with fewer than 10 employees and annual revenue below €2 million that provide covered services are exempt from the EAA’s service requirements. |
|
European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 358/2020) |
Public-sector bodies |
Public-sector websites and mobile apps |
No general size exemption |
|
Disability Act 2005 |
Public bodies |
Access to public services and information for people with disabilities |
No general size exemption |
Want to know more about a specific law and how it applies to your business?
Accessibility Laws and Compliance Guides in Ireland, Accessibility Laws and Compliance in Europe
This guide explains who enforces the EAA in Ireland, how the rules apply to Irish businesses, and what can happen if an organisation does not meet its accessibility obligations.
Accessibility Laws and Compliance Guides in Ireland, Accessibility Laws and Compliance in Europe
In 2025, the CCPC received 53 complaints under the European Accessibility Act and 16 notifications of claimed exemptions. These cases are now being actioned, with outcomes expected in 2026.
Accessibility Laws and Compliance Guides in Ireland, Accessibility Laws and Compliance in Europe
Does the European Accessibility Act and EN 301 549 have any connection? Learn more about these regulations and the key differences between the EAA directive and the relevant guidelines, standards and country-specific legislation that make it work!
United Kingdom, Accessibility Laws and Compliance Guides in Ireland
If you are looking for clarification around the EAA Relevance in the UK and how it can impact businesses, discover now all you need to know about the Act!
EAA: Covered products and services must be accessible, including their content, navigation, controls and use with assistive technology. For digital products and services, EN 301 549 sets the technical requirements and includes WCAG 2.1 requirements.
2020 Regulations: EN 301 549, with WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the main standard for web content.
Disability Act 2005: No specific WCAG level. WCAG 2.1 Level AA is a useful accessibility benchmark.
All of the accessibility laws and regulations covered in this guide are already in place and active in Ireland. Some came into effect several years ago, while the EAA has applied since 28 June 2025. The key dates below can help you understand when each set of requirements came into effect.
The Disability Act 2005 introduced accessibility duties for public bodies in Ireland.
The rules apply to public-sector websites from 23 September 2019 and mobile apps from 23 June 2021.
The EAA has applied since 28 June 2025. Organisations covered by the Act must meet its accessibility requirements for the products and services covered by this law.
Who checks the rules depends on the law and the type of product or service.
For the Disability Act 2005, the National Disability Authority (NDA) checks that certain parts of the Act are being followed.
For the 2020 Regulations, the National Disability Authority (NDA) is also the responsible authority to monitor the accessibility of public-sector websites and mobile apps.
For the EAA, different Irish authorities are responsible for different products and services. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) checks covered products such as e-commerce and e-books. Other services are covered by the relevant authority:
ComReg: electronic communications
Coimisiún na Meán: audiovisual media services
Irish Aviation Authority (IAA): certain air passenger services
National Transport Authority (NTA): certain bus, rail and water passenger services
Central Bank of Ireland: consumer banking services
Legal risks include:
Disability Act 2005: The Act includes penalties for certain offences, including up to €3,000 and/or 12 months' imprisonment, but these do not apply automatically to digital accessibility complaints.
European Union Regulations 2020: The main legal risk is being identified as non-compliant, receiving a complaint and being required to address the accessibility issues.
European Accessibility Act: Certain violations can result in fines and imprisonment: up to €5,000 and/or 6 months' imprisonment, or up to €60,000 and/or 18 months' imprisonment for more serious cases.
The main accessibility laws in Ireland cover different types of organisations, services and information.
|
EAA |
2020 Regulations |
Disability Act 2005 |
|---|---|---|
|
Main focus: e-commerce, banking, e-books, electronic communications and some transport services |
Main focus: Public-sector websites and mobile apps |
Main focus: Public services and information |
|
Who it applies to: Organisations providing covered products or services |
Who it applies to: Public-sector bodies |
Who it applies to: Public bodies |
|
WCAG level: WCAG 2.1 Level AA through EN 301 549 |
WCAG level: WCAG 2.1 Level AA through EN 301 549 |
WCAG level: No specific level |
Not sure which Irish rules apply to your organisation? Start here:
Are you a public-sector body? The 2020 Regulations apply to your covered websites and mobile apps. The Disability Act 2005 may also apply to your wider public services and information.
Do you provide a product or service covered by the EAA? If you offer products or services like e-commerce, banking, e-books, electronic communications and some transport services the EAA may apply.
Still not sure? Explore our compliance guides below for more detail.
Accessibility Laws and Compliance Guides in Ireland, Accessibility Laws and Compliance in Europe
This guide explains who enforces the EAA in Ireland, how the rules apply to Irish businesses, and what can happen if an organisation does not meet its accessibility obligations.
Accessibility Laws and Compliance Guides in Ireland, Accessibility Laws and Compliance in Europe
In 2025, the CCPC received 53 complaints under the European Accessibility Act and 16 notifications of claimed exemptions. These cases are now being actioned, with outcomes expected in 2026.
Accessibility Laws and Compliance Guides in Ireland, Accessibility Laws and Compliance in Europe
Does the European Accessibility Act and EN 301 549 have any connection? Learn more about these regulations and the key differences between the EAA directive and the relevant guidelines, standards and country-specific legislation that make it work!
United Kingdom, Accessibility Laws and Compliance Guides in Ireland
If you are looking for clarification around the EAA Relevance in the UK and how it can impact businesses, discover now all you need to know about the Act!
Yes. Public-sector websites and mobile apps are covered by the European Union 2020. Some private-sector websites are also covered by the European Accessibility Act, depending on the service they provide.
No. The EAA applies to organisations that provide specific products and services covered by the Act. It does not apply to every business or website.
It can. Microenterprises providing covered services are generally exempt from the EAA's service requirements, but other small businesses may still be covered.
The standard depends on the law. Public-sector websites and mobile apps must follow EN 301 549, which includes WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements for web content. The EAA also uses EN 301 549 for relevant digital products and services.
For the EAA and public-sector websites and mobile apps, WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the main WCAG requirement through EN 301 549.
The EAA has applied in Ireland since 28 June 2025.
Enforcement depends on the law and sector. The National Disability Authority (NDA) monitors public-sector web and mobile accessibility, while different authorities enforce the EAA for different products and services.
Learn more about the European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882), including who it applies to, which products and services are covered, and what organisations need to do.
Read about the European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020 to understand the requirements for public-sector websites and mobile apps.
For wider accessibility duties for Irish public bodies, read our guide to the Disability Act 2005.
Explore the accessibility laws and regulations that apply across the UK. Learn about the Equality Act 2010, and other key requirements, including who needs to comply, the accessibility standards involved, enforcement and potential penalties.
Understand the main digital accessibility laws and requirements in the US. Find out how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 508 and other relevant laws apply to different organisations, and what organisations need to know about.
Explore the accessibility laws and requirements that apply across Canada. Learn about the Accessible Canada Act and provincial accessibility legislation, including who needs to comply, the standards and deadlines that apply.
Now that you understand which accessibility rules may apply to your organisation, check your website for common accessibility issues.
Run a free homepage scan to get a quick report of potential accessibility issues.
Test, monitor and improve your website’s accessibility with Nexus Inclusion. Sign up or book a demo to explore the tools available for your team.
