Accessibility Statement - Entitlements
This website is run by Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Northern Ireland. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:
- zoom in up to 200% without the text spilling off the screen
- navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
- navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
- clearly understand the content and instructions of the website.
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
How accessible this website is
We know some parts of this website aren't fully accessible:
- Transfer entitlements - two form labels are not properly associated with form fields.
- The loading indicator is not announced to screenreading software, so a user many not be aware that a page is still loading.
- The focus does not return to the top of the page when a continue button is clicked.
- A timeout is applied to the portal, after a period of inactivity, which users are unable to adjust
- There is a missing page title on the Welcome page
- Links which open in a new tab or window are not explicitly stated
- The main region of the page is incorrectly identified, making it more difficult for screenreaders to recognise
What to do if you can't access parts of this website
If you need further information or assistance in using parts of this website, you can contact a DAERA Direct Regional Office.
- email DAERA Direct Regional Offices
- call 0300 200 7840
A DAERA member of staff will be able to help you with your request.
Reporting accessibility problems with this website
We're always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems that aren't listed on this page or think we're not meeting the requirements of the accessibility regulations, contact the DAERA customer helpline on 0300 200 7852 or email daera.helpline@daera-ni.gov.uk.
If you are unhappy with the quality of service received, in the first instance, you can make a complaint to DAERA.
Enforcement procedure
If you remain dissatisfied with the Department's final response to your complaint, you can refer your case to the Equalities Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI), which is responsible for enforcing accessibility regulations. You can contact them.
Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural AffairsDundonald House
Upper Newtownards Road
Ballymiscaw
Belfast BT4 3SB
DAERA Headquarters map location
Call DAERA customer helpline on 0300 200 7852 or email daera.helpline@daera-ni.gov.uk.
If you have a hearing difficulty you can contact the Department via Text Relay using the Next Generation Text Service (NGTS).
- Making a call from a textphone dial 18001 + number.
- Making a call from a telephone dial 18002 + number.
There are also various Text to Speech applications available to use.
Technical information about this website's accessibility
DAERA is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications)(No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.
Issues with technology
- The spinner is not announced to screenreaing software - an aria role should be added, and some text (e.g. Loading) which can be read by a screenreader only (1.3.1 Info and Relationships)
- Transfer Entitlements - there are form labels but they are not associated with the Business ID and Transfer ID inputs (1.3.1 Info and Relationships)
- Ensure that input fields are sufficiently stacked on small screen devices so that all information can be adequately read without being hidden or truncated (1.4.10 Reflow)
- A timeout, following a period of inactivity, is applied across the portal session, which cannot be amended individually for applications within the portal (2.2.1 Timing adjustable)
- When a link is clicked to progress to another page (e.g. Transfer Service > Proceed to Transfer Entitlements), the user is not returned to the top of the next page. The tab remains inside the body of the page. And may cause confusion for users (2.4.3 Focus Order)
- Welcome - broken Aria reference. The main navigation includes aria-labelledby="navbarDropdown" but there is no element with this ID. Remove if not required (4.1.2 Name, Role, Value)
- Ensure landmarks are unique. Where two nav landmarks are used, identify them using an aria-label (4.1.2 Name, Role, Value)
- A main region is missing from the application. The aria role="main" has been applied incorrectly to the wrong page area (4.1.2 Name, Role, Value)
Issues with text
- Missing title element on Welcome page (2.4.2 Page Titled)
- Links in Welcome footer open in new window. This is a change in context which needs to be alerted to the user. Add (opens in new tab or window). (3.3.2 On Input)
Issues with PDFs and other documents
- some PDFs associated with this application, such as the Guide to Transfer of BPS Entitlements, are not fully accessible. There are issues with bookmarks, figures alternate text and table headers.
- We are working to either fix this or replace with accessible webpages.
Issues with images, video and audio
- No known issues
Issues with interactive tools and transactions
- No known issues
How we tested this website
This website was last tested on 24 February 2022. The test was carried out (in-team) by DAERA Digital Services Division.
We chose to sample those pages which were most commonly used, and most representative of the general functionality and layout of the web application. The sample pages were tested for code compliance using the Axe testing tool and WAVE (Web Accessiblity Evaluation Tool). The pages also underwent manual testing to ensure they adhered to the four Accessibility principles (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust).
We tested:
- Welcome
- Register
- Transfer Service
- Completed Transfers
- Confiscated Entitlements
- Guide to Transfer of BPS Entitlements (PDF)
- TE1 Actual Inheritance (DOCX)
What we're doing to improve accessibility
The Department is actively engaged in improving the accessibility of its applications. As part of our 'Development Checklist', we require developers to design software with accessibility compliance built in. In those circumstances where compliance cannot be met, reasons for this should be documented, along with steps for addressing issues. We also carry out user research to ascertain user requirements and conduct usability workshopping before launching new applications.
This statement was prepared on 28 February 2022. It was last updated on 28 February 2022.