Public sector websites serve everyone — and that's what makes them uniquely challenging. A council website needs to be usable by a 25-year-old filing a planning application on their phone, an 80-year-old checking bin collection schedules on a tablet, and a business owner navigating procurement processes on a desktop. Accessibility isn't a nice-to-have; it's a legal obligation and a moral imperative.

Government and council websites have the broadest possible audience. They need to serve every citizen regardless of age, ability, technical confidence, or device. That's a design challenge most commercial sites never face, and it requires a fundamentally different approach to information architecture, usability, and content.

Why Public Sector Websites Are Different

Commercial websites aim to convert visitors into customers. Public sector websites aim to help citizens complete tasks, access services, and find information they're entitled to. The success metric isn't conversion rate — it's task completion rate. Did the citizen find what they needed? Could they complete the process online? Did the website reduce phone calls and counter visits?

Public sector websites also operate under specific legal obligations. The EU Web Accessibility Directive (transposed into Irish law) requires public sector bodies to ensure their websites and mobile applications meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards. The European Accessibility Act extends these requirements further. Non-compliance isn't just poor practice — it's a legal failure.

Types of Public Sector Organisations We Build For

Essential Features for Public Sector Websites

WCAG 2.1 AA Accessibility Compliance

Accessibility must be built into every aspect of your website, not treated as a separate compliance exercise. This means proper heading hierarchy for screen readers, sufficient colour contrast ratios, keyboard navigability for all interactive elements, alternative text for images, captioned video content, readable fonts at appropriate sizes, and forms that work with assistive technology. We test with actual screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver), keyboard-only navigation, and automated accessibility scanning tools. W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) resources guide our compliance approach. An accessibility statement page explaining your compliance level and providing a contact for accessibility issues is required by the EU directive.

Plain Language Content

Government content must be written in plain language — not bureaucratic jargon. Citizens shouldn't need a law degree to understand their entitlements or complete a form. Content should be written at a reading age of 9–12, use short sentences, avoid acronyms (or explain them on first use), and structure information with clear headings and bullet points. This isn't about dumbing down — it's about respecting your audience's time and ensuring everyone can access the information they need regardless of education level or English language proficiency. A thorough content audit can identify areas where your existing content needs simplifying.

Online Service Delivery and Forms

Every service that can be delivered online should be. Planning applications, grant applications, licence renewals, reporting issues, paying rates or charges, booking facilities — online delivery reduces cost per transaction, improves citizen satisfaction, and frees staff for complex cases that genuinely require human interaction. Forms must be accessible, mobile-friendly, save progress for longer applications, provide clear error messaging, and integrate with back-office systems to avoid dual data entry.

Bilingual and Irish Language Support

Under the Official Languages Act, public bodies have specific obligations regarding Irish language provision on their websites. Gaeltacht areas and organisations with Irish language schemes need fully bilingual sites. Others need at minimum Irish language versions of key content. Your website architecture must support bilingual content management without doubling the administrative burden. See our guide to bilingual website design.

Transparency and Democratic Engagement

Public sector websites have democratic accountability obligations. Meeting minutes, policy documents, public consultations, FOI publication schemes, financial reports, and decision records should be easily findable and searchable. For councils, councillor profiles, committee memberships, and ward information help citizens engage with their local democracy. Consultation tools that allow citizens to comment on plans and proposals demonstrate genuine engagement rather than box-ticking.

Common Mistakes Public Sector Websites Make

• Organisational structure as navigation — Citizens don't know which department handles their issue. Organise by citizen need ("Report a problem," "Apply for..."), not by internal structure.
• PDF-first content — Burying essential information in downloadable PDFs is inaccessible, unsearchable, and mobile-unfriendly. HTML content should be the default, with PDFs only for formal documents.
• Accessibility as afterthought — Auditing for accessibility after launch finds problems that are expensive to fix. Build accessibility into the design from day one.
• Outdated content — Old event listings, expired consultations, and broken links undermine trust. Implement content review schedules and automated archiving.
• Poor search functionality — Public sector sites often contain thousands of pages. If your search doesn't work well, citizens can't find what they need and phone lines get overwhelmed.
• No mobile optimisation — Citizens access council services on their phones. Forms, maps, and service information must work perfectly on mobile devices.
• Ignoring ongoing maintenance — Public sector sites need consistent website maintenance to stay secure, accessible, and up to date. Budget for it from day one.

Investment Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What accessibility standard must public sector sites meet?

WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the legal minimum under the EU Web Accessibility Directive. This covers perceivability (text alternatives, captions, colour contrast), operability (keyboard access, enough time, no seizure triggers), understandability (readable, predictable, input assistance), and robustness (compatible with assistive technologies).

Do we need to go through public procurement?

Depending on the contract value, yes. Below certain thresholds, you may be able to use a simplified process. Above EU thresholds, full tender procedures apply. We're experienced in responding to public sector tenders and understand the procurement frameworks that apply to website development contracts.

Can WordPress handle public sector requirements?

WordPress powers many government websites worldwide, including at national level. With appropriate security hardening, accessibility-first theme development, and proper hosting infrastructure, it's an excellent choice for most public sector organisations. For very large or complex requirements, Drupal remains a popular alternative.

How do we handle bilingual content?

Through multilingual CMS plugins that allow parallel content management in English and Irish. Each page has linked translations, and visitors can switch language seamlessly. The key is making bilingual content manageable for your team — translation workflows, shared media assets, and clear editorial processes prevent bilingual sites from becoming an administrative burden. See our full guide to Irish language and bilingual websites.

How do we budget for ongoing website maintenance?

Public sector websites need consistent maintenance for security updates, accessibility compliance, content freshness, and performance monitoring. Budget separately for ongoing website maintenance costs — this typically runs €150–€300+ per month for a council-scale site. Factor in translation costs for bilingual content updates and regular accessibility audits to maintain WCAG compliance.

How can we protect our website and official communications from spoofing?

Public sector organisations are prime targets for email spoofing and phishing attacks. Setting up proper email authentication protects your domain from being impersonated. On the website side, follow our WordPress security checklist and ensure regular security audits are part of your maintenance routine.

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