Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
83. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport to detail the preparations being undertaken by his Department in advance of the European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882); the guidance that is being issued by his Department to organisations and businesses in advance of the enactment of the directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39678/23]
View answerMy Department has been actively involved in national efforts, led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), to finalise the arrangements for the transposition and implementation of Directive (EU) 2019/882, which is an important Directive that will introduce accessibility requirements for certain products and services within the EU.
The primary focus of efforts to date has been to finalise the transposition of the Directive. In that regard, the DCEDIY has been working for a considerable period of time to coordinate transposition with a range of Government Departments and public bodies. This has involved conducting extensive policy and legal analysis of the implications of the Directive, in close co-operation with DCEDIY’s legal advisors and the Office of the Attorney General. It has also required extensive engagement with a range of Departments, including Transport, and agencies to reach agreement on key policy decisions. I understand the DCEDIY’s officials are currently engaging with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to finalise drafting of the necessary regulations to transpose the Directive.
Once transposition is complete, the focus will shift to concerted efforts to prepare for implementation of the Directive by 28 June 2025. This work is expected to include further interdepartmental and inter-agency consideration of operational procedures, capacity building, and outreach. My Department will continue to engage with DCEDIY as necessary, including in relation to sectoral preparations and guidance which will require support from the DCEDIY and the National Disability Authority.
