The WRC rejected a school transport user’s disability discrimination complaint over longer journeys after his transport service was changed. The decision was dated 5 July 2017.
The service user said the new journeys were unsustainable and that the special-needs transport circular lacked the 1.5-hour travel-time target set out in another circular. The government department said the service was adjusted after journey times increased and that a fixed target for special-needs routes would be impractical.
The adjudication officer found that other passengers on the route were also special-needs users and were inconvenienced by the delays. The officer also found no evidence of discrimination in the different circular provisions, given the logistical challenges of arranging transport for about 12,000 children with special needs. The complaint was dismissed.
The department had offered to refund €302 in transport expenses, and the officer said the offer should be accepted by the service user. The decision did not record that amount as an award.