Malcolm Byrne
Question:327. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health how she ensures that all websites operated by her Department are accessible to the visually impaired. [4819/26]
View answerWednesday, 21 January 2026
Questions (327)
Written answers
The Department of Health utilises the OGCIO’s gov.ie platform to host and manage its website, benefiting from the robust infrastructure and technical environment provided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). Accessibility for visually impaired users is prioritised from the outset, with the OGCIO’s design system and implementation approach embedding accessibility as a core requirement in the design, development, and ongoing operation of all websites on the platform.
All websites managed on the gov.ie platform, including that of the Department of Health, are built and maintained in complete compliance with Irish and EU accessibility legislation, including the EU Web Accessibility Directive, the Accessibility of Public Sector Bodies Regulations 2020, and the upcoming EU Accessibility Act 2025. These sites conform to WCAG 2.1 AA international accessibility standards, and efforts are underway to transition to WCAG 2.2 AA.
Accessibility is continuously monitored through automated testing, manual reviews, and regular audits conducted by the National Disability Authority (NDA) as part of the statutory monitoring framework. Accessibility statements are kept current, and any issues identified through audits or user feedback are addressed. Recent NDA assessments have confirmed full compliance for gov.ie in the simplified review and awarded a high score in the in-depth review, placing it among the most accessible public service websites in Ireland.
To provide a high-quality user experience for visually impaired users, the OGCIO applies best practices in accessibility on the gov.ie platform. This includes ensuring compatibility with screen readers, maintaining appropriate colour contrast, and enabling all services to be operated via keyboard-only navigation.
While the OGCIO manages the technical platform and centrally maintained content, the Department of Health itself remains responsible for ensuring that all of its published materials are accessible. The OGCIO provides ongoing guidance and communications to assist in this work. In partnership with the NDA, the OGCIO has published comprehensive accessibility standards for documents, videos, images, and other online content, covering requirements such as alternative text, captions, correct heading structure, sufficient colour contrast, and minimising the use of PDFs where possible.
Through this integrated approach, combining legislative compliance, technical standards, ongoing testing, and independent audits, the Department of Health, with the support of the OGCIO, ensures that its website continues to meet high accessibility standards for visually impaired users.