Accessibility


RTÉ is Ireland’s national public service media organisation. It offers free, cost-effective access to TV channels, radio stations, podcasts, and online platforms like RTÉ.ie, the RTÉ News App, and RTÉ Player, in Ireland and internationally. RTÉ also operates an orchestra, transmission networks, and publishes the RTÉ Guide. Wherever possible, RTÉ works to ensure its services and facilities are accessible to people with disabilities. 

Accessibility Statement  

RTÉ is deeply committed to accessibility and to celebrating all of our communities.   Accessibility is a key part of RTÉ’s public service remit.  

RTÉ’s Access Team is dedicated to making our services and apps accessible to all audiences, service users and for visitors to our sites. (see below for full statement on RTÉ Digital Services) 

For information on RTÉ’s Access Services for content, click here

For information on using RTÉ’s services and platforms click here

RTÉ Access Services Outreach  

RTÉ hosts an annual meeting with representative groups, which is also open to members of the public.  

The majority of our text based online services are speech-enabled.  

Most RTÉ studios are wheelchair accessible, as well as public areas and offices.  

If an individual with a disability encounters a difficulty in accessing any of RTÉ’s services we will do our best to assist in addressing that issue. If the issue cannot be resolved, a formal complaint can be made.  

For access services related queries, please contact accessfeedback@rte.ie or playerfeedback@rte.ie .  

RTÉ Access Officer 

RTÉ has appointed an Access Officer in accordance with the Disability Act 2005 (Section 26). 

The Access Officer acts as a point of contact and is responsible for providing, or arranging, assistance and guidance to persons with disabilities who wish to access services provided by RTÉ. 

RTÉ’s Access Officer also provides advice and guidance to employees/potential employees to identify and implement reasonable accommodations, where required. 

The Access Officer ensures promotion of accessibility through our channels and platforms and works with our Access Team to ensure accessibility of our technologies and campus. 

The contact details for RTÉ’s Access Officer are: 

Tracey Carr | Email: accessfeedback@rte.ie | Phone: 01 208 3434 

Accessibility Statement for RTÉ’s Digital Services 

RTÉ is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for all users across its websites, mobile apps, and supported big-screen TV platforms, in accordance with European Union Accessibility Act and its enactment in Irish Statute, SI636 

This Accessibility Statement applies to: 

  • Mobile iOS and Android apps  
  • Supported Web Clients, Set Top Boxes and Smart TV apps 

Scope and Exclusions 

This statement covers current content published on the platforms listed above. It does not cover archived or legacy content, including: 

  • PDF documents published before 23 September 2018  
  • Videos or audio published before 23 September 2020 
  • Archived or historical content not currently being updated 
  • News and Audio apps are currently undergoing redevelopment with consideration for enhanced accessibility, aiming for WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance. 

Compliance Status 

All RTÉ’s digital products are currently partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, due to some identified accessibility issues. We are actively working to resolve these and aim to address key access functionality issues, where technically feasible. Some device-level limitations may require a longer timeframe due to third-party constraints. 

Known Limitations  

The following issues may affect users on our website, mobile, or Smart TV platforms: 

  1. Keyboard Navigation: Some focusable UI elements may not be correctly mapped, which could lead to occasional difficulties when navigating the interface using only the keyboard. 
  1. Mobile Menu Accessibility: Some secondary navigation menu itemss on mobile devices may pose challenges for screen reader users. 
  1. Images: Not all images include appropriate alternative text or metadata descriptions. 
  1. Subtitles & Audio Descriptions: Not all live or on-demand video/audio content includes subtitles or audio descriptions. 
  1. Unsupported Devices: Some Smart TVs or set-top boxes do not support built-in screen readers or accessibility features. 
  1. Unique Landmarks: On some pages of the application, landmark regions may not be uniquely defined. This can create challenges for users navigating the content with assistive technologies, as repeated or ambiguous. 
  1. Archived Content: Older articles or media may contain inaccessible elements. We do not intend to make retrospective changes to archive content unless essential. 
  1. ARIA Attributes: On some pages of the application, Aria attributes or roles may be improperly applied to certain elements, which may result in a reduced navigational experience. 

This is not an exhaustive list of limitations. 

Supported Assistive Technologies and Testing 

Our platforms are designed and tested for compatibility with the following: 

Supported Desktop Browsers

  • Chrome 
  • Firefox 
  • Safari 
  • Edge 

Supported Assistive Technologies

  • NVDA (Windows) 
  • JAWS (Windows) 
  • Microsoft Narrator 
  • Screen Reading technology on the MAC  
  • Native assistive technology on (macOS, iOS, tvOS) 
  • TalkBack (Android and Android TV) 
  • Built-in accessibility features on WEBOS, Tizen, and compatible Set-Top Boxes 

Planned Improvements 

We are committed to ongoing improvements including: 

  • Ensuring all links have meaningful text 
  • Expanding availability of subtitles and image descriptions for audio, video, and visual content 
  • Replacing PDFs with accessible HTML wherever possible 
  • Conducting regular spot checks on image descriptions and accessibility standards 

How We Test the Site  

We use the WCAG Level 2.1 AA guidelines to test the accessibility of our products. We conduct user testing on the site and will continue to do so, addressing any non-compliant issues identified. For testing we use the above listed assistive technologies, and tools such as Stark

Feedback and Contact Information 

If you have feedback or wish to report a barrier, please contact: 

📧 Email: accessfeedback@rte.ie or playerfeedback@rte.ie 
📞 Phone: 01 208 3434 

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may escalate your complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman