Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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196. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will request confirmation from all public bodies under his aegis and all bodies publicly funded by his Department that they are in compliance with the Web Accessibility Directive (EU 2016/2102) with regard to web sites from 23 September 2020 and mobile apps from 23 June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54661/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department’s digital content migrated to a central platform, gov.ie, in September 2020. As users, my officials ensure relevant staff are trained according to the standard set out by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) who have responsibility for the platform and its accessibility. Following the last accessibility audit, 65 issues were identified and fixed, and the OGCIO has since released updates to the core code of the site to improve accessibility. Our agencies have been made aware of their obligations under this directive and compliance is a matter for each individual organisation.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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197. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the action that will be taken by his Department for any public body or any publicly funded body under his aegis which is non-compliant with accessibility requirements under the 2005 disability and equality legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54662/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Disability Act 2005 provides for accessible public buildings, insofar as is practicable, as well as accessible services and information. In addition, the Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 prohibit discrimination in the provision of goods and services, accommodation and education. They cover the nine grounds of gender, marital status, family status, age disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, and membership of the Traveller community.

Both pieces of legislation include complaints mechanisms for those who consider that they have not been able to access the relevant services. The National Disability Authority (NDA) have prepared codes of practice, under the Disability Act 2005, on the accessibility of public services and information and on accessible heritage sites.

The NDA have recently commenced the drafting of a code of practice on accessible public buildings. The Workplace Relations Commission is the adjudicator in cases under the Equal Status Acts.