Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 October 2022
248. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the timeline for the roll-out of accessibility statements in schools for school websites to be achieved; and the work that her Department is conducting on this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50784/22]
View answerMy department recently published the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027, with the implementation plan in development which will contain actions including those required to support schools in their implementation of digital technologies. This will be published shortly.
Under S.I. No. 358/2020 - European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020 (including W3C WCAG 2.1 Standards, all public sector bodies in Ireland including schools are required to make their websites and mobile applications (apps) accessible and have a clear Accessibility Statement on their website. The National Disabilities Authority has responsibility for providing guidance and overseeing compliance on this regulation.
My Department and the PDST-tie will work with the National Disability Authority as required to assist in providing appropriate guidance for schools regarding the implementation of and compliance with this regulation.
Decisions regarding the deployment of and the use of digital technologies are a matter for the management of schools as they are best placed to determine this according to their own situation and requirements.
Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the board of management of a school is responsible for the direct governance of a school. Certain school policies that schools must have in place and published on the schools website include the schools Admission Policy, Child Safeguarding Statement, Code of Behaviour, Anti-Bullying Policy, and Health and Safety Statement. The National Disability Authority has responsibility for providing guidance and overseeing compliance with these regulations and information is available on the NDA website.
