No place on board for special needs passenger who loves buses

MY brother, who is 39, has cerebral palsy, cannot speak and his comprehension is limited. He has one passion — buses.

Since he was a small child he has shouted and waved at buses as they passed our family home. The house is full of toy buses and bus books.

So it is with no little sadness that I feel compelled to write this on his behalf.

On August 3, we set out to bring him north by bus for the day. As we were about to get on board, the Bus Éireann driver informed me he would not allow my brother to travel on his bus.

The reason given by the driver was that he had heard my brother shouting and was using his discretionary powers not to allow him travel.

My brother had indeed shouted a couple of times in excitement at seeing all the buses at the station. He has travelled many times before without any problem as he is always accompanied by a carer or family member.

When I explained my brother’s situation to the driver, he just kept repeating that he had power of discretion as to who he did on did not allow on the bus.

Then he drove away in a vehicle with plenty of empty seats.

About 10 minutes later we got to speak with an inspector who, while sympathetic, informed us that even though he understood the situation, he would not have been able to get the driver to take us.

This episode appears to raise serious question as to my brother’s (and I’m sure others’) right to travel.

Surely, under our constitution, he has a right to be treated equally.

Can a crying baby or someone with a bad cough be asked to get off a bus at the driver’s discretion?

When my brother has to travel to another town to see a specialist for his condition, can he not use public transport because, ironically, he expresses, in his own way, his joy at seeing a bus? In view of this experience, a worrying prospect would be to manage to travel to another place and then be left high and dry by a driver who decides he will not allow a person with special needs to travel.

Perhaps Bus Éireann, the transport unions and the relevant State departments could let us know at what level of disability one cannot travel on public transport so that the decision is not left to the whim of individual Bus Éireann employees.

Shane McCann

2 New Terrace

Monaghan