Council backs blood bike toll exemption bill

A local councillor has called on the government to enact a new proposed bill that would support volunteer Blood Bike services by extending exemptions from road tolls and the right to use bus lanes, which currently apply to ambulances.

Road Traffic and Roads (Blood Bikes Exemption) (Amendment) Bill 2025 was drafted by Sinn Féin last year and seeks to amend the Roads Act 1993 and Road Traffic Act 1994 to support these services, which currently pay tolls and face restrictions.

Councillor Damien Brady (SF) outlined what the service does when raising the matter for discussion at the April monthly meeting of Cavan County Council, noting there are around 140 such volunteers nationwide, offering a 24 hour service, 365 days of the year.

He told his fellow elected members that the blood bike service handles around 6,000 calls annually, making them a vital cog in the healthcare system.

He said the legislation, which was introduced for first-stage debate in the Dáil on July 2025, and approved in October, has still not been “fully implemented” yet.

The motion was seconded by Fianna Fáil's Philip Brady who described the law change as a “no brainer”.

“They shouldn't have to pay tolls,” he said, joined in his backing by fellow party colleague Patricia Walsh, by Independent Brendan Fay, and Fine Gael's TP O'Reilly.

Others offering their support were Cathaoirleach John Paul Feeley, Fianna Fáil's Clifford Kelly and Áine Smith, and Independent Ireland's Shane P O'Reilly, an undertaker by trade outside of the council chamber, who said for years there had been an “understanding” whereby a hearse and the following few cars would be allowed through a toll barrier unimpeded.

“That's gone the last 12 months,” he said. “It seems they're clamping down on it.”

Published with support from the Local Democracy Scheme.