Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), Ireland’s largest public transport provider, introduces its inaugural Youth Board. Following a hugely competitive selection process with 251 applicants, with an outstanding standard of applicants, CIÉ Group selected 15 young people to be part of its first ever Youth Board. Meeting for the first time recently, the Youth Board will act as CIE Group’s advisory board, providing insights, feedback and ideas to feed into CIÉ’s board.
Kick off its two-year board tenure this September, The Youth Board is an innovative way to support CIÉ’s Board; helping bring fresh perspectives to unlock new insights and ideas that support problem solving and innovation opportunities faced by CIÉ Group. They will make recommendations on new ways to encourage the public at large to move from private to public transport.
Outgoing Chairperson of the CIÉ Board, Fiona Ross, and Group CEO of CIÉ, Lorcan O’Connor, met the Youth Board at CIÉ HQ, Heuston Station and later, at Irish Rail, Inchicore Works, showed them some of the newest lower carbon additions to the CIÉ fleet; an electric Dublin Bus, a Bus Éireann Hydrogen bus and a proto type of the new battery electric DART+ train, the first of which will be arriving into the country this Autumn.
Fiona Ross (she/her), Outgoing Chairperson, CIÉ Board, who spearheaded this project said: “At CIÉ, we are on a journey to transform Ireland’s public transport system. We believe that having the perspective of young people, through a Youth Board informing our decision-making, will make us better as an organisation and deliver better outcomes for Ireland. We wanted to engage a diverse group of young people – creative, forward-thinking, ambitious young people – to collaborate with us to evolve and grow Ireland’s public transport system, future-proofing CIÉ. We were blown away with the quantity and quality of applicants. So many talented young people applied and we are delighted to have secured such a skilled and diverse group to sit on our first Youth Board. I can’t wait to see what they will achieve and have no doubt that their input will leave a lasting legacy for CIÉ and all who use public transport.”
Lorcan O’Connor (he/him), Group CEO of CIÉ, said: “Transport decisions made today will have long-term implications for young people well into the future, and the volume of applicants is testament to how young people want a say in the future of Ireland’s public transport. The calibre of young people joining the Youth Board can only help our decision-making as Ireland’s largest public transport provider with a vision to transform public transportation into a powerful force for positive environmental, social, and economic change.”
CIÉ collaborated with THINKHOUSE, experts in youth communication and engagement, to establish The Youth Board.
The CIÉ Youth Board includes local James Casserly (18). A familiar face to many, James Casserly from Lucan has been traveling Ireland and Europe for over two years utilising public transport. For many, he has served as a source of insight into the realm of accessibility on public transport through his instagram @jimbos_accessible_adventures.
