The verdict in three sentences
For an Irish public body such as a county council service, an agency or a regulator, a website rebuild costs EUR 30,000 to 80,000 excl. VAT and above EUR 25,000 must be advertised on eTenders. Accessibility is not a bonus: the EU Web Accessibility Directive, transposed in Ireland, requires public sector sites to meet WCAG standards, and you should specify WCAG 2.2 AA in the tender. A 60 % quality, 40 % price award weighting protects you from abnormally low bids that end in change orders.
The legal and budget framework
Under Office of Government Procurement guidance, contracts below EUR 25,000 can be awarded after a minimum of three written quotes. Between EUR 25,000 and the EU threshold (EUR 221,000 for sub-central bodies in 2026), the contract must be advertised on eTenders. Above that, full EU procedures apply, which is rare for a website.
| Element | 2026 order of magnitude | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Advertising threshold (services) | EUR 25,000 excl. VAT | Below: 3 written quotes minimum |
| Website rebuild budget | EUR 30,000 to 80,000 excl. VAT | 60 to 200 pages, online services |
| Independent accessibility audit (initial + final) | EUR 3,500 to 9,000 | WCAG 2.2 AA, accessibility statement |
| EU-hosted infrastructure | EUR 1,500 to 4,500 per year | Data kept in the EU, GDPR aligned |
| Support and maintenance | EUR 3,500 to 10,000 per year | Fixes, security, updates |
| Tender duration | 5 to 8 weeks | Drafting, publication, evaluation |
| Total time to launch | 5 to 9 months | Tender included |
Consider lots or options: a core lot (site and CMS) plus optional items (events calendar, service request portal) let you match the approved budget.
The specification template
An effective technical specification runs to 20 to 30 pages. These are the chapters to include and what bidders must cost.
| Specification chapter | Key requirements | Indicative weight in quality score |
|---|---|---|
| Context and audiences | Residents, businesses, councillors, visitors; traffic data | Not scored |
| Sitemap and templates | 8 to 15 templates, news, events, service directory | 15 % |
| Accessibility | WCAG 2.2 AA, accessibility statement, monitoring plan | 20 % |
| CMS and staff autonomy | Roles, workflow, 2 to 4 training sessions | 15 % |
| Online services | Links or integration with service portals, forms | 10 % |
| Hosting, security, GDPR | EU hosting, backups, records of processing | 15 % |
| Methodology and plan | Workshops, testing, knowledge transfer | 15 % |
| Exit and portability | Content export, source code, no proprietary lock-in | 10 % |
Ask bidders for a public sector site they have already had audited against WCAG, with its conformance results. Bilingual delivery in Irish and English may also be required under the Official Languages Act, which typically adds 15 to 25 % to the budget.
Mini case study
Aoife, head of corporate services at a Dublin-based public agency serving 40,000 users, is preparing a tender. Estimate: EUR 55,000 excl. VAT for delivery, EUR 5,500 for the accessibility audit, EUR 2,800 a year for hosting and EUR 6,500 a year for support, i.e. EUR 69,800 in year one.
Today the front desk handles about 900 calls a month, 35 % of which are about information that exists online but cannot be found (opening hours, application deadlines, forms). If the new site cuts those calls by 30 %, around 95 six-minute calls fewer each month, the agency frees about 115 staff hours a year, on top of reducing accessibility complaint risk.
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FAQ
What budget for a public body website in Ireland in 2026?
Plan EUR 30,000 to 80,000 excl. VAT for the rebuild, plus EUR 3,500 to 9,000 for an accessibility audit and EUR 1,500 to 4,500 a year for hosting.
Do we have to advertise the contract?
Below EUR 25,000, three written quotes are enough. Above that, the contract must be advertised on eTenders.
What price and quality weighting should we use?
A 60 % quality and 40 % price weighting is common for public websites. It limits the risk of bids underpriced by 30 % or more.
Is WCAG compliance mandatory?
Yes. Public sector bodies must meet the accessibility requirements of the EU Web Accessibility Directive and publish an accessibility statement, reviewed at least once a year.
How long does the project take?
Allow 5 to 9 months in total, including 5 to 8 weeks of tendering and 3 to 6 months of delivery.
Let's scope your project. Send us your specification or scope (number of pages, online services, languages), and we will help you frame it and respond with a WCAG-compliant offer between EUR 30,000 and 80,000. 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.
