Appendix 1:
Sections in Part 3 of the Disability Act, 2005

Part 3

Access to services, etc.

  1. 26.-(1) Where a service is provided by a public body, the head of the body shall-
    1. where practicable and appropriate, ensure that the provision of access to the service by persons with and persons without disabilities is integrated,
    2. where practicable and appropriate, provide for assistance, if requested, to persons with disabilities in accessing the service if the head is satisfied that such provision is necessary in order to ensure compliance with paragraph (a), and
    3. where appropriate, ensure the availability of persons with appropriate expertise and skills to give advice to the body about the means of ensuring that the service provided by the body is accessible to persons with disabilities.
  2. (2) Each head of a public body referred to in subsection (1) shall authorise at least one of his or her officers (referred to in this Act as "access officers") to provide or arrange for and co-ordinate the provision of assistance and guidance to persons with disabilities in accessing its services.
  3. (3) This section shall come into operation on 31 December 2005.

Accessibility of services supplied to a public body.

  1. 27.-(1) Where a service is provided to a public body, the head of the body shall ensure that the service is accessible to persons with disabilities.

    (2) Subsection (1) shall not apply if the provision of access by persons with disabilities to any services provided to the body-

    1. would not be practicable,
    2. would not be justified having regard to the cost of doing so, or
    3. would cause unreasonable delay in making the goods or services available to other persons.
  2. (3) In this section references to the provision of services include references to the supply of goods.
  3. (4) This section shall come into operation on 31 December 2005.

Access to information.

  1. 28.-(1) Where a public body communicates with one or more persons, the head of the body shall ensure-
    1. if the communication is an oral one and the person or persons aforesaid has a hearing impairment and so requests, or
    2. if the communication is a written one and the person or persons aforesaid has a visual impairment and so requests,

    That, as far as practicable, the contents of the communication are communicated in a form that is accessible to the person concerned.

  2. (2) Where a public body communicates in electronic form with one or more persons, the head of the body shall ensure, that as far as practicable, the contents of the communication are accessible to persons with a visual impairment to whom adaptive technology is available.
  3. (3) The head of a public body shall ensure, as far as practicable, that information published by the body, which contains information relevant to persons with intellectual disabilities, is in clear language that is easily understood by those persons.
  4. (4) This section shall come into operation on 31 December 2005.

Back to top