Total Population
Population with a disability
according to World Health Organization’s 15% estimate2024
Ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Article 16.1, paragraph 3 states:
No law shall be enacted placing any citizen under disability or incapacity [i.e., no citizen shall be disqualified] for membership of Dáil Éireann on the ground of sex or disqualifying any citizen or other person from voting at an election for members of Dáil Éireann on that ground.
Article 46, subsection 3 states:
The special voter shall complete the declaration of identity and shall sign it or, if the voter is unable to write, place his or her mark thereon and the said signature, or as the case may be mark, shall be witnessed by the special presiding officer.
Article 60 states:
No person shall be admitted to a polling station other than—…
(f) companions of electors whose sight is so impaired or who are otherwise so physically incapacitated that they are unable to vote without assistance, while such companions are assisting such electors…
Article 62 states:
Where, not less than 7 days before the polling day at an election, an elector, whose name is not on the postal voters list or the special voters list, satisfies the returning officer that the elector is unable, by reason of that elector's physical illness or physical disability, to vote at the polling station at which the elector would otherwise be entitled to vote, and the returning officer is of opinion that it would be more convenient for the elector because of that physical illness or physical disability to vote at another polling station in the same local electoral area, the elector may, if so authorised in writing by the returning officer vote at such polling station in the same local electoral area as may be specified in the authorisation.
Article 65 states:
(1) Where an elector applying for a ballot paper satisfies the presiding officer that the elector's sight is so impaired or that the elector is otherwise so physically incapacitated or is unable to read or write to such an extent that he or she is unable to vote without assistance, this article shall apply.
(2) For the purposes of sub-article (1) the presiding officer may, and if required by any personation agent present in the polling station shall, administer to the elector before delivery of the ballot paper an oath…
(3) Where this article applies in the case of an elector who satisfies the presiding officer that the elector's sight is so impaired or that the elector is otherwise so physically incapacitated that he or she is unable to vote without assistance, the elector may request that the ballot paper shall be marked by a companion and, subject to sub-article (4), the companion may go with the elector into one of the compartments in the polling station and there shall mark the ballot paper for the elector and shall fold it and show the back of the folded paper to the presiding officer so as to disclose the official mark and forthwith place the paper in the ballot box…
(5) Where this article applies and—
(6) A request made by an elector within two hours before the hour fixed by the Minister for the close of the poll to have the ballot paper marked for the elector under this article otherwise than by a companion may be refused by the presiding officer if, in the presiding officer's opinion, having regard to the number of electors then coming in to vote or likely to come in to vote before the close of the poll, acceding to such request would interfere with the proper discharge of the presiding officer's duties or would unduly obstruct the voting of other electors.
(7) Where a ballot paper is to be marked pursuant to sub-article (5) the presiding officer may assist the elector by reading out in full from the ballot paper the particulars stated in respect of each candidate, but the presiding officer shall not act on any written instruction…
Section 43, subsection 2 states:
Where, not less than 7 days before polling day at a presidential election, a presidential elector whose name is not on the postal voters list or the special voters list, satisfies the local returning officer that he is unable, by reason of physical illness or physical disability suffered by him, to vote at the polling station at which he would otherwise be entitled to vote and the local returning officer is of opinion that it would be more convenient for the elector because of his physical illness or physical disability to vote at another polling station in the same constituency, the elector may, if so authorised in writing by the local returning officer in such form as may be directed by the Minister, vote at such other polling station in the same constituency as may be specified in the authorisation.
Article 46, subsection 3 states:
The special voter shall complete the declaration of identity and shall sign it or, if the voter is unable to write, place his or her mark thereon and the said signature, or as the case may be mark, shall be witnessed by the special presiding officer.
Article 60 states:
No person shall be admitted to a polling station other than—…
Article 62 states:
Where, not less than 7 days before the polling day at an election, an elector, whose name is not on the postal voters list or the special voters list, satisfies the returning officer that the elector is unable, by reason of that elector's physical illness or physical disability, to vote at the polling station at which the elector would otherwise be entitled to vote, and the returning officer is of opinion that it would be more convenient for the elector because of that physical illness or physical disability to vote at another polling station in the same local electoral area, the elector may, if so authorised in writing by the returning officer vote at such polling station in the same local electoral area as may be specified in the authorisation.
Article 65 states:
(1) Where an elector applying for a ballot paper satisfies the presiding officer that the elector's sight is so impaired or that the elector is otherwise so physically incapacitated or is unable to read or write to such an extent that he or she is unable to vote without assistance, this article shall apply.
(2) For the purposes of sub-article (1) the presiding officer may, and if required by any personation agent present in the polling station shall, administer to the elector before delivery of the ballot paper an oath…
(3) Where this article applies in the case of an elector who satisfies the presiding officer that the elector's sight is so impaired or that the elector is otherwise so physically incapacitated that he or she is unable to vote without assistance, the elector may request that the ballot paper shall be marked by a companion and, subject to sub-article (4), the companion may go with the elector into one of the compartments in the polling station and there shall mark the ballot paper for the elector and shall fold it and show the back of the folded paper to the presiding officer so as to disclose the official mark and forthwith place the paper in the ballot box…
(5) Where this article applies and—
(6) A request made by an elector within two hours before the hour fixed by the Minister for the close of the poll to have the ballot paper marked for the elector under this article otherwise than by a companion may be refused by the presiding officer if, in the presiding officer's opinion, having regard to the number of electors then coming in to vote or likely to come in to vote before the close of the poll, acceding to such request would interfere with the proper discharge of the presiding officer's duties or would unduly obstruct the voting of other electors.
(7) Where a ballot paper is to be marked pursuant to sub-article (5) the presiding officer may assist the elector by reading out in full from the ballot paper the particulars stated in respect of each candidate, but the presiding officer shall not act on any written instruction…