Authority

Purpose and Function

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

The remit of the NTA is primarily concerned with the planning, development and funding of sustainable transport modes, that is, public transport, cycling and walking, on a national basis. NTA’s remit also extends to the regulation of commercial public bus services as well as the small public service vehicle sector and vehicle clamping.

The NTA manages the capital investment programme nationally for public transport, cycling and walking, funding transport operators, local authorities and other bodies for approved projects on behalf of the Department of Transport.

The NTA is also the approving authority for the three mega public transport projects supported by the updated National Development Plan 2026 – 2035. These are:

› BusConnects › DART+ Programme › MetroLink

The NTA’s remit includes meeting the demand for sustainable transport services across Ireland as well as working with stakeholders to reduce carbon emissions from a transport perspective.

Enabling Legislation

The NTA was established in December 2009 on foot of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008.

It was originally conceived as a transport authority for the Greater Dublin Area under the 2008 Act. However, it was subsequently renamed the National Transport Authority in the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, which extended NTA’s functions to include the licensing of commercial bus services and small public service vehicles nationally.

The Taxi Regulation Act 2013, which consolidated and updated primary legislation in relation to the licensing of small public service vehicles and drivers, also extended the geographic scope of some of the organisation’s functions nationally.

The Public Transport Act 2016 further extended NTA’s powers to empower it to make byelaws regulating the use of certain subsidised public bus services by passengers.

The Vehicle Clamping Act 2015, which gives NTA responsibility for the regulation of clamping activities nationally, came into operation on 1 October 2017.

The NTA also has some specific 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 region comprising 40% of the population of the State and 43% of total State employment by place of residence.