The verdict in three sentences
A local authority in the Dublin area redesigning its website in 2026 must write WCAG 2.1 AA conformance into the specification as a measurable contractual requirement, not an intention. Budget benchmarks are an accessibility audit at EUR 2,500 to 6,000 ex VAT and a redesign at EUR 30,000 to 80,000 ex VAT, depending on page volume and online services. A missing accessibility statement or feedback mechanism exposes the council to complaints, adverse monitoring reports from the National Disability Authority and Ombudsman investigations.
A council's accessibility obligations in 2026
The EU Web Accessibility Directive, transposed in Ireland by S.I. 358 of 2020, requires public sector websites to meet the harmonised standard EN 301 549, which references WCAG 2.1 AA. For a council the obligations cover published documentation as much as the site itself.
| Obligation | Expected content | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility statement link on every page | Conformance status: non, partially or fully compliant | Permanent |
| Accessibility statement | Compliance level, inaccessible content, contact, enforcement procedure | Updated after each audit |
| Multi-year accessibility plan | Policy, resources, timeline | Every 3 years (good practice) |
| Annual action plan | Concrete actions for the year | Every year |
| Feedback mechanism to report issues | Dedicated form or address | Permanent |
| Conformance audit | Representative page sample, WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria | At each redesign and major change |
| Accessible downloadable documents | Tagged PDFs or HTML alternative | At each publication |
Essential clauses in the specification
A vague specification produces a site designed to be accessible that fails the audit. Write verifiable clauses: at least 75 % of success criteria met at delivery and 100 % on the shared template and main online services; an audit by an independent third party, not by the developing supplier; penalties or a 5 to 10 % retention until the target is reached; training for staff editors, because 60 to 70 % of failures appear after launch, in published content (images without alt text, untagged PDFs, badly structured tables); a CMS that enforces accessibility fields (mandatory alt text, controlled heading levels).
Also require accessibility from embedded third party services: appointment booking, online payments, planning portals, interactive maps. These are often the least compliant components.
2026 budget and timeline
The total usually stays below EU procurement thresholds, allowing a simpler tender procedure. Here are orders of magnitude for a 150 to 400 page site.
| Item | 2026 cost (EUR ex VAT) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Initial accessibility audit of the current site | 2,500 - 6,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Specification writing and procurement support | 3,000 - 8,000 | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Redesign (design, development, CMS, content migration) | 30,000 - 80,000 | 5 to 8 months |
| Final conformance audit by a third party | 2,500 - 6,000 | 2 weeks |
| Staff editor training | 1,500 - 4,000 | 2 to 3 half days |
| Remediation of priority PDFs | 30 - 120 per document | Ongoing |
| Maintenance and annual follow-up audit | 3,000 - 8,000 per year | Annual |
A realistic timeline runs 9 to 12 months from the initial audit to publishing the new accessibility statement.
Mini case study
Aoife, communications director of a county council serving 45,000 residents near Dublin, is preparing the redesign of a 250 page site whose statement currently reads non compliant. She budgets an initial audit at EUR 4,000 ex VAT, a redesign at EUR 55,000, a final audit at EUR 3,500 and training for 15 editors at EUR 2,000, a total of EUR 64,500 ex VAT.
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Per resident, the investment is about EUR 1.43 ex VAT, spread over a 6 to 8 year site lifecycle. By comparison, retrofitting a non compliant site after a critical monitoring report typically costs 30 to 50 % of a new build, with no lasting benefit for residents. This calculation is illustrative.
FAQ
How much does a WCAG audit cost for a council in 2026?
Between EUR 2,500 and 6,000 ex VAT depending on sample size, usually 15 to 25 representative pages. A re-audit after fixes often costs 40 to 60 % of the initial audit.
What conformance level should the tender require?
At least 75 % of criteria at delivery, with 100 % on the shared template and main services. Below 50 % the site is generally declared non compliant.
Who monitors and enforces?
The National Disability Authority monitors public sector websites and reports to the European Commission, and residents can complain to the council and then to the Ombudsman. Repeated failures also create reputational and procurement risk.
Must old PDFs be made accessible?
Documents published before September 2018 can be exempt if they are not needed for active services. Forms and useful documents must be fixed, at EUR 30 to 120 ex VAT per document.
How long does an accessible redesign take?
Allow 5 to 8 months of delivery, and 9 to 12 months including the initial audit, the tender and the final audit.
Let's scope your project. We help you scope your WCAG redesign (audit, specification clauses, budget, 9 to 12 month timeline) and price the delivery. 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.
