The verdict in three sentences
If your company sells online, offers consumer banking, transport or communication services, the European Accessibility Act (EAA), in force since 28 June 2025, requires a website that meets WCAG 2.1 AA, which means 50 success criteria, as reflected in the harmonised standard EN 301 549. An audit costs EUR 2,500 to 8,000 and remediation EUR 5,000 to 30,000 depending on the site's condition and the complexity of user journeys. In Ireland, non-compliance can lead to enforcement notices, fines and, in serious cases, criminal penalties, on top of the reputational risk.
Who is covered in 2026
Ireland transposed the EAA through the European Union (Accessibility Requirements of Products and Services) Regulations 2023. Public bodies were already covered by the Web Accessibility Directive. The EAA extends duties to specific private sectors regardless of size, except microenterprises with fewer than 10 staff and under EUR 2 million turnover providing services.
| Company profile | Obligation | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| B2C e-commerce, 10+ staff | Accessible websites and apps | EAA, Irish regulations 2023 |
| Consumer banking services | Online banking, calculators, onboarding | EAA |
| Passenger transport (ticketing, information) | Websites, apps, kiosks | EAA |
| Telecom operator | Websites and communication services | EAA |
| Public sector body | Website, accessibility statement, monitoring | Web Accessibility Directive |
| Pure B2B site with no consumer service | No direct EAA duty | Good practice, often required in tenders |
| Service microenterprise | Exempt | EAA |
A Dublin company with over 250 staff is therefore not covered by size alone: what matters is the activity. A retailer with a consumer web shop is covered, an engineering consultancy selling only to businesses rarely is, but its public sector clients increasingly ask for WCAG AA compliance.
What audit and remediation cost
The audit tests a representative sample of pages (home, contact form, product page, basket, account area) against WCAG 2.1 AA, with screen readers and keyboard-only navigation.
| Service | Scope | 2026 price | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automated + quick manual pre-audit | 5 to 10 pages | EUR 1,200 to 2,000 | 1 week |
| Full WCAG 2.1 AA audit | 15 to 20 pages | EUR 2,500 to 5,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Website + mobile app audit | 20 pages + 10 screens | EUR 5,000 to 8,000 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Remediation, brochure site | Contrast, headings, forms, alt text | EUR 5,000 to 10,000 | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Remediation, e-commerce site | Checkout, filters, modals, payment | EUR 12,000 to 30,000 | 6 to 12 weeks |
| Re-test and accessibility statement | Verification, published compliance level | EUR 1,000 to 2,500 | 1 week |
| Content team training | 1 day, 6 to 10 people | EUR 1,200 to 2,000 | 1 day |
The most common failures never change: poor contrast, images without text alternatives, form fields without labels, menus unreachable by keyboard, modal windows that trap focus. On a recent, well-built site, 60 to 70% of issues are fixed in shared components, which sharply lowers the bill.
Fix or rebuild: the right call
When initial compliance is below 30% and the site is more than 5 years old, fixing page by page often costs as much as an accessible-by-design rebuild. Above 50% compliance, targeted remediation is almost always cheaper. The final deliverable is the accessibility statement, listing the compliance level, exemptions and a contact channel to report problems.
Mini case study
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Aoife, digital director of a 400-employee retailer in Dublin, learns that her web shop falls under the EAA. A full audit at EUR 4,500 shows 42% compliance. Remediation is quoted at EUR 18,000 and the re-test plus statement at EUR 1,800, a total of EUR 24,300. Given the enforcement risk and the fact that around one in five people in Ireland report a disability, a significant share of potential customers, the project protects revenue and also improves mobile conversion, a 2026 estimate.
FAQ
Is my B2B website covered by the European Accessibility Act?
If you only sell to businesses, the EAA generally does not apply directly. However, many public buyers require WCAG 2.1 AA compliance of 75% or more in their tenders.
How much does an accessibility audit cost in Dublin in 2026?
Between EUR 2,500 and 5,000 for a 15 to 20 page site, up to EUR 8,000 including a mobile app. A quick pre-audit costs EUR 1,200 to 2,000.
Who enforces the EAA in Ireland?
Enforcement is shared between designated market surveillance authorities, including the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission for many consumer services. They can issue compliance notices, and serious breaches can lead to prosecution.
Do we need 100% compliance?
It is rarely achieved. A level of 75 to 90% with a remediation plan for the rest is a realistic and defensible target, documented over a 3-year roadmap.
Are automated tools enough?
No, they catch about 30 to 40% of issues. The rest requires manual keyboard and screen reader testing (NVDA, VoiceOver).
Let's scope your project. Send us your website address and key user journeys: we will price the audit, between EUR 2,500 and 8,000, and estimate remediation with a 3 to 12 week schedule. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
