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Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021

Tuesday, 15 June 2021

Questions (1218, 1219)

Holly Cairns

Question:

1218. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way in which her Department and agencies under her remit are meeting the requirement to have a statement on the compliance of their websites and mobile applications with the regulations under the directive 2016/2102 (EU), as articulated in SI No. 358/2020 - European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31289/21]

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Holly Cairns

Question:

1219. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way in which her Department and agencies under her remit are meeting the requirement to subject to Regulation 6, public sector bodies shall, in accordance with Regulation 3, take necessary measures to make their websites and mobile applications more accessible by making them perceivable, operable, understandable and robust under the directive 2016/2102 (EU), as articulated in SI No. 358/2020 - European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31307/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1218 and 1219 together.

My Department’s website, like many other Departments, forms part of Gov.ie, which is overseen by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). I am informed that Gov.ie partially complies with Level AA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 standards. Gov.ie has a compliant accessibility statement which can be accessed at https://www.gov.ie/en/help/accessibility/.

The only website directly under my Department’s control is www.tidytowns.ie. The TidyTowns website is hosted by an external company on behalf of my Department. I understand that adaptations are required to the website with regard to the requirements of S.I. No. 358/2020 - European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020. My Department is currently exploring whether to update the current website or to replace it with a new TidyTowns website which would be fully compliant with S.I. No. 358/2020.

My Department has 4 agencies under its aegis and the position in relation to each of them is set out below.

The website of the Charities Regulator (www.charitiesregulator.ie) is compliant with Directive (EU) 2016/2102 and S.I. No. 358/2020 - European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020 and follows WCAG 2.0. The statement on accessibility is available at https://www.charitiesregulator.ie/en/accessibility.

The Pobal website (www.pobal.ie) has been confirmed as achieving Level AA conformance to the WCAG 2.0, following the most recent audit of the website. The Accessibility Statement for the website can be found at https://www.pobal.ie/accessibility/.

The Western Development Commission (WDC) has assured my Department that it is committed to achieving Level AA conformance to the WCAG 2.0 for its website (www.westerndevelopment.ie). The Accessibility Statement for the website is available at https://westerndevelopment.ie/accessibility/.

Water Safety Ireland (WSI) has confirmed that its website (www.watersafety.ie) is in compliance with Directive (EU) 2016/2102 and SI No. 358/2020. The Accessibility Statement for the website is available at https://watersafety.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/WSI-Accessibility-Statement.pdf.

Question No. 1219 answered with Question No. 1218.
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