Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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211. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm that when making provision for the European Accessibility Act (EU Directive 2019/882), he will ensure that every ATM and point-of-sale credit card terminal is accessible to people who are blind and visually impaired, and that this will include provision for audio guides and tactile keyboards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20935/23]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I intend to fully transpose the European Accessibility Act in the manner required by the Directive.

Accessibility is a key facilitator for the meaningful inclusion and participation of people with disabilities in our society, including people who are blind or visually impaired.

The European Accessibility Act is an important EU Directive that will introduce mandatory minimum accessibility requirements for certain products and services across the European Union. These requirements will apply to both the public and private sectors.

The Directive covers a range of commonly used products and services including payment terminals and certain self-service terminals such as ATMs. It advocates for a universal design or ‘design for all’ approach to accessibility, which means ensuring access for persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.

Under the terms of the Directive, products such as payment terminals and ATMs must be designed and produced in a way to maximize their use by people with disabilities.

This means that products must contain features and functions that allow people with disabilities to access, perceive, operate, understand and control the product. This includes providing access via more than one sensory channel and alternatives to vision, auditory, speech and tactile elements. Products will also have to be compatible with assistive devices.

In addition to product design and functionality, products will have to be accompanied by accessible information on their functioning and on their accessibility features.

The annexes of the Directive set out the technical accessibility requirements for relevant products and provide indicative examples to facilitate compliance, including measures designed to support blind or visually impaired people.

Ireland recognises the importance of the European Accessibility Act for advancing the rights of people with accessibility needs, including people who are blind or visually impaired. Extensive work is underway to transpose the accessibility requirements set out in the European Accessibility Act in the earliest possible course. Implementation of the Directive is required by 28 June 2025.