Minister marks NTA – Go-Ahead Ireland five year contract for Outer Dublin Metropolitan Area (ODMA)
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien joined the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Go-Ahead Ireland to mark the signing of a significant five-year contract to operate Public Service Obligation (PSO) bus services across the Outer Dublin Metropolitan Area (ODMA).
65 Public Service Obligation bus routes
Under the agreement, Go-Ahead Ireland will manage 65 PSO bus routes across the ODMA, including nine term-time routes designed to support local families and strengthen community connectivity. Once fully implemented, these services will add approximately 17.5 million kilometres annually to the Transport for Ireland (TFI) network, enhancing public transport connectivity for communities across North and South Dublin.
New Go-Ahead bus routes started on Saturday, 22 November
On Saturday, 22 November, Go-Ahead Ireland began operating 25 routes under the new ODMA North and South contract, while continuing to run 15 routes from the original ODMA contract during a transitional period. These 15 routes will be gradually phased out as new services launch under BusConnects. The remaining 40 routes will be introduced in phases, aligned with the rollout of phases 8 to 11 of the BusConnects Network Redesign.
Go-Ahead Ireland was selected earlier this year as the preferred bidder under a competitive public procurement process.
Since 2018, Go-Ahead Ireland has been operating under contract with the NTA in the Outer Dublin Metropolitan Area, facilitating nearly 97 million passenger journeys to work, school, medical appointments, and beyond. In 2024, customer satisfaction reached 82%, underscoring the operator’s vital role within the TFI network.
Expanding services and improving connectivity
Speaking on the contract announcement, Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien said: “This agreement represents a significant investment in the future of public transport in Dublin and delivers on commitments set out in the Programme for Government. Expanding services and improving connectivity are central to our climate and mobility goals, ensuring that more people have access to sustainable, reliable, and affordable transport options.”
Our goal (at the NTA) is to make public transport the first choice for more people
Adding to this, newly appointed NTA CEO Anne Shaw said: “This contract is a key milestone in our BusConnects programme and in our broader vision for public transport in Dublin. By partnering with Go-Ahead Ireland, we are ensuring that passengers benefit from modern, efficient, and customer-focused services. Our goal is to make public transport the first choice for more people, reducing congestion and emissions while improving quality of life.”
Dervla McKay, Managing Director of Go-Ahead Ireland commented: “At Go-Ahead Ireland, our priority has always been our passengers. This new contract enables us to expand our services and our network while continuing to provide safe, reliable, and accessible transport across the Greater Dublin Area. Since 2018, we have worked closely with the NTA in operating the ODMA contract and supporting the BusConnects Network Redesign, and that experience forms a strong foundation for our next phase of growth. Our colleagues across the entire business are central to this success, and we look forward to building on this strong foundation as we support our growing communities.”
Further information
This partnership with Go-Ahead Ireland underscores the NTA’s commitment to delivering sustainable, reliable, and customer-focused public transport across the Dublin region.
For service updates and further information, please visit the Go-Ahead Ireland website.
The Image above includes:
- Daniel Lewis, CCO, Go Ahead Group
- Jeremy Ryan Director of Public Transport Services, NTA
- Anne Shaw, Chief Executive Officer, NTA
- Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien
- Dervla McKay, Managing Director Go Ahead Ireland
- Hugh Creegan Director of Transport Planning, Investment and Taxi Regulation, NTA