Introduction to Accessibility
For far too many people and for far too long, an inaccessible environment has restricted their ability to participate as full citizens in Irish society. This has been particularly true for people with disabilities.
All too often, the poor design of services has limited their choices and made ordinary activities like accessing public services such as information, transport or voting difficult if not impossible. A significant proportion of our population has been excluded from the economic, political and social life of our nation.
But this is changing. Over the last six years, priority has been given to the development, enactment and implementation of a comprehensive framework of equality legislation. Our equality code is among the most comprehensive in Europe.
Three Acts are in place, the Employment Equality Act 1998, the Equal Status Act 2000 and the Equality Act 2004. In 2000, the Government launched their mainstreaming initiative which required public bodies, where possible, to integrate services for people with disabilities. The Disability Act, 2005 is a positive action measure designed to advance and underpin the participation of people with disabilities in everyday life.
Code of Practice
In July 2006, the NDA launched its Code of Practice on Accessibility of Public Services and Information provided by Public Bodies. This Code of Practice sets out the Authority's understanding of what is required of public bodies under sections 26, 27 and 28 of the Disability Act 2005 and is designed to guide public bodies in meeting their statutory obligations by providing practical advice and examples.
Accessible Public Services - General
The NDA has identified four core areas of public services delivery,
which should be made fully accessible.
These areas are:
This website has been designed to be accessible to all, including people with disabilities. For more information on the accessibility of this site, please see the Accessibility Statement.