'I am so excited': Offaly student chosen to join CIÉ Youth Board

An Offaly student has been chosen to join the second youth board of Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), Ireland's largest public transport provider.

Charlie Beaudelot from Tullamore will join the board offering their transport experience as a Human Nutrition and Dietetics student at TU Dublin.

The 21-year-old says they are delighted to join the youth board and hope that they can provide a voice for others using public transport. “I am so excited to be joining CIÉ’s Youth Board. As a commuter in university and completing healthcare placements, the bus and train are invaluable to me visiting my family in Tullamore while balancing my studies and part- time work.”

Charlie added: “Public transport is a vital aspect of life for young people in Offaly and I am looking forward to ensuring they have a voice in public transport development. With my time commuting and experience of transport across the country, I am especially interested in rural connections and late- night services that all can avail of safely.”

The newly formed group includes 12 young people aged 18 to 24, from nine counties: Carlow, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Louth, Offaly, Roscommon and Wexford.

The group met today, November 5, for the first time since their formal appointment last month, and will be introduced to the CIÉ Board at CIÉ headquarters in Dublin’s historic Heuston Station, followed by a visit to Iarnród Éireann’s mechanical and engineering hub at Inchicore Works.

This will offer the board members an opportunity to experience a 180 year old history of Ireland’s railways and see the new battery electric train, expected to rollout in 2027.

The new Youth Board will continue to act as an advisory board, providing insights, feedback and suggestions to feed into CIÉ’s board. They will contribute thoughts and ideas on the key challenges and opportunities faced by CIÉ Group - and share a youth perspective on operational issues to reimagine how the public at large engage with public transport.

The 12 young people were chosen from 86 young people who applied for the opportunity, from that cohort 30 were brought forward to the interview stage, where the final twelve most suitable and diverse candidates were identified to represent young people across the country.

CIÉ first launched its search for a Youth Board in 2024 and recruited 15 young people who have worked with the organisation over the past two years, learning about the industry and contributing to CIÉ’s work.

Over their two year tenure the group engaged with each operating unit of CIÉ spending time with the teams across Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann and CIÉ Tours. They have also had the opportunity to work with the CIÉ board.

Aidan Murphy, Chair of CIÉ Board Aidan Murphy who met the new Youth Board today had this to say: “When we set up our first Youth Board two years ago, we wanted young people at the table, not just in the conversation, and they more than delivered. They asked tough questions, brought fresh ideas and gave us an honest view of what public transport is like for young people across Ireland.”

“Today I’m delighted to welcome twelve new members from every corner of the country. The decisions we make now will shape how this generation travels for decades, and I can’t wait to work with them.”

Speaking of the new youth board Stephen Kent, Group CEO of CIÉ said: "Public transport in Ireland is growing at an unprecedented pace, with new trains, more services and more passengers every year. As we grow, we need to make sure we’re building something young people actually want to use. Our Youth Board gives us a direct line to that perspective, and I’m looking forward to seeing our teams across the Group put this new board’s ideas to work."

Aisling Maloney, previous Youth Board Chair reflected: “Joining the Youth Board two years ago, I didn’t know what to expect, but I hadn’t imagined that we would sit down with the people who run Ireland’s buses and trains for genuine two-way conversations about the future of travel in Ireland. We spent time with incredible teams across Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann and CIÉ Tours, where we saw first-hand how much work goes into keeping the country moving.

Aisling also advised: “To the new board, I want you to ask the difficult questions, bring your lived experiences and remember that your voice counts. We’re not just passengers, we’re stakeholders. Best of luck, this journey is yours to continue.”