Information About the FOI Body 

The National Transport Authority is a statutory non-commercial body, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Transport.

Functions

In broad terms, the Authority’s statutory functions can be summarised as follows:

National (including the Greater Dublin Area)
  • Procure public transport services by means of public transport services contracts;
  • Provide integrated ticketing, fares and public transport information;
  • Develop an integrated, accessible public transport network;
  • License public bus passenger services that are not subject to a public transport services contract;
  • Manage the Rural Transport Programme and the successor structure of Transport Co-ordination Units;
  • Provide bus infrastructure and fleet and cycling facilities and schemes;
  • Develop and implement a single public transport brand – Transport for Ireland;
  • Develop and maintain a regulatory framework for the control and operation of small public service vehicles (taxis, hackneys and limousines) and their drivers;
  • Prepare statutory submissions on Regional Planning Guidelines;
  • Collect statistical data and information on transport;
  • Enforce EU passenger rights in rail, maritime and bus and coach transport;
  • Validate EU authorisations and journey forms in relation to bus and coach travel in accordance with EU Regulation No. 1073/2009; and
  • Operate as the national conciliation body for electronic toll service providers.
Greater Dublin Area alone
  • Undertake strategic planning of transport;
  • Invest in all public transport infrastructure; and
  • Develop the effective management of traffic and transport demand.
Functions on behalf of the Department of Transport

In addition to its statutory functions the Authority also undertakes a number of functions on behalf of the Department of Transport on a non-statutory basis. The non-statutory functions include:

  • Planning and funding of sustainable transport projects in the regional cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford;
  • Administration of the Smarter Travel Workplaces programme;
  • Management of the Green Schools Travel programme; and
  • Provision of accessibility funding to transport operators and other relevant bodies.

The NTA also works with local authorities on the delivery of Active Travel projects such as segregated cycle lanes, widened footpaths, new walking and cycling bridges, and new pedestrian crossings.

Legislation

NTA obtains statutory powers from pieces of legislation including:

Board

The Authority is governed by a Board of up to twelve members appointed by the Minister for Transport. Three positions on the Board are ex officio positions reserved for the Chief Executive, another senior manager of the Authority, and the Dublin City Manager.

Board members may be appointed for a period of up to five years and may be re-appointed. However, Board members may serve a maximum of ten years. This restriction does not apply to the ex officio members who stand appointed for as long as they occupy the relevant position.

Executive

The Authority has six divisions each headed by a director. The six divisions are:

  • Transport Planning & Investment
  • Public Transport Services
  • Transport Regulation
  • Public Transport Technology
  • Finance & Corporate Services
  • Chief Information Office
History

The National Transport Authority (NTA) was established on foot of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008. While it was originally conceived as a transport authority for the Greater Dublin Area under the 2008 Act, it was renamed the National Transport Authority in the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009 (“2009 Act”). The 2009 Act, the Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016, the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015 and various Statutory Instruments have greatly extended the Authority’s functions and geographic remit.

There remain some specific additional functions in respect of infrastructure and the integration of transport and land use planning in the Greater Dublin Area, reflecting the particular public transport and traffic management needs of the Eastern region of the country comprising approximately 40% of the State’s population and economic activity.

Website

The National Transport Authority website is https://www.nationaltransport.ie/

You can find other information about us on our website including:

Corporate Plans and Strategies

Reports and Statements 

Organisation and Pay/Grading Structures

Customer Charters

Links to Operators