Mission, Vision & Values

Mission

To connect Ireland’s people and places, by providing accessible, high quality, sustainable transport infrastructure and services, contributing to vibrant, climate resilient communities, a healthy environment, balanced regional development and a strong economy.

Vision

In fulfilling our mission, our vision is to be:

1. effective in the provision of accessible, high quality, sustainable transport infrastructure and services.

2. credible, working constructively to help shape the best outcomes, including reducing carbon emissions.

3. an organisation that provides our people with the opportunity to reach their potential and build fulfilling careers, while feeling valued in an environment that supports diversity and inclusion.

Values

The values held by the NTA guide how we behave and our decision-making process. We will deliver on our strategy while adhering to our core values as set out below.

› Public Service Commitment – we will prioritise the needs of the public in all transport planning and delivery, while ensuring services are inclusive, equitable, and responsive to community needs. › Sustainability – we will promote environmentally responsible transport solutions and support Ireland’s climate goals through active travel initiatives and lowemission public transport fleet. › Safety and Reliability – we will maintain high standards of safety for all transport users, while delivering consistent, dependable services that people can trust. › Accessibility and Inclusion – we will foster an inclusive workplace and implement transport solutions that support accessible transport for people of all ages, abilities, and locations, promoting universal design and rural connectivity. › Innovation and Efficiency – we will embrace smart technologies and data-driven decision-making, while empowering our people to continuously improve systems and practices, to maximise performance and value for money. › Transparency and Accountability – we will operate with openness, integrity, and clear communication, being accountable to our people, the public, stakeholders, and government. › Strategic Vision – we will plan for long-term mobility needs with foresight and adaptability, aligning transport infrastructure with national development and urban planning, while investing in our people’s development to meet future challenges. › Collaboration – – we will work together in partnership with stakeholders including local authorities, transport operators, and communities, while fostering cooperation across sectors to deliver integrated transport networks.

Goals

• Customer First – With a deep understanding of customer needs, deliver infrastructure and services that meet those needs, placing an emphasis on accessibility, inclusivity, integration, efficiency and value for money.

• Climate & Environmental Action – Pursue a transition to more sustainable modes of transport, reduce transport emissions and implement demand management measures. Protect biodiversity, promote nature-based solutions, as well as maintaining a climate and environmentally conscious organisation.

• Transport Planning – Undertake strategic transport planning, seeking the optimal alignment of land use with transport policy and practice.

• Transport Infrastructure – Implement a comprehensive investment programme that delivers sustainable transport infrastructure in an efficient and effective manner.

• Transport Services – Secure the optimal provision of accessible, reliable, high quality, subsidised public transport services for people in all regions across Ireland. Leverage technology and data insights to continuously improve services, including the information provided to the public.

• Transport Safety & Regulation – Strengthen security arrangements on public transport. Regulate and enhance the small public service vehicle (SPSV) and commercial bus sectors, as well as clamping activities across the State. Enforce EU Passenger Rights Regulations.

• Stakeholder Engagement – Keep the public informed of the NTA’s activities while engaging, collaborating and partnering effectively with external parties to support the achievement of our strategy.

• People & Organisation – Support the development of our people in a positive working environment, while maintaining an innovative, fit-for-purpose and evidencebased organisation, to achieve high standards in governance and service delivery.

Strategic Objectives

In the pursuit of delivering on the NTA’s goals, each goal has been assigned several strategic objectives which are to be achieved over the life of the strategy. Set out below are the strategic objectives, aligned to their respective goals, which are to be achieved during 2026-2030. Please note that several of the strategic objectives below are subject to external dependencies, including planning approval and government funding.

Customer First

1. Continue developing a deep understanding of customer or transport user needs, to help ensure that the infrastructure and services delivered for urban and rural communities, effectively address those needs.

2. Continuously improve integration of transport infrastructure and services to provide customers with an easy-to-use public transport network and a seamless end-to-end journey experience.

3. Complete the national rollout of Next Generation Ticketing, a modern and user-friendly ticketing solution that includes mobile phone and debit/credit card payments.

4. Complete the transition to a singular Automatic Vehicle Location system showing the realtime location of vehicles, for all PSO bus services.

5. Develop a pilot programme of mobility hubs incorporating shared cars, shared bikes (standard and electric, including cargo bikes) and, where appropriate, e-scooters.

6. Ensure there is effective ongoing communication with customers, particularly during service disruptions, with enhancements including the Customer Information Services programme for the rail network.

7. Deliver a Bus Stop Enhancement Programme, which includes the transition of all bus stops to the TFI style as well as providing consistent, accurate, up-to-date customer information at stops, stations and on-board services.

8. Ensure an emphasis on accessibility so that infrastructure and services are available to all, with initiatives including the retrofit of ten additional railway stations to comply with accessibility requirements and the continuation of accessibility measures relating to bus and SPSV services.

9. Maintain a constant focus on efficiency and effectiveness across all NTA activities, to help ensure value for money is achieved for customers and taxpayers.

10. Enhance inclusivity, proactively engage with various user groups to inform improvements that meet their specific needs.

Climate & Environmental Action

1. Promote an improved transport modal balance, with a greater proportion of people using sustainable modes including walking, cycling, shared mobility and public transport.

2. Design and implement, effective transport demand management measures, including the publication of a demand management scheme for the Greater Dublin Area.

3. Foster the use of circular economy principles which help support low-carbon, resourceefficient project delivery, including use of low-carbon construction materials, asset reuse, and sustainable procurement.

4. Achieve a reduction in public transport emissions in collaboration with sector stakeholders, including the transition of 75% of urban bus services to zero/low emission vehicles and the implementation of a transition strategy to lower emission vehicles for regional bus services.

5. Implement measures to make sustainable transport more climate resilient.

6. Protect and enhance natural habitats by integrating biodiversity considerations into transport planning and infrastructure delivery, ensuring projects mitigate impacts on sensitive ecosystems.

7. Promote the use of nature‑based solutions including green corridors and pollinator‑friendly planting along transport routes, to support ecological connectivity.

8. Align transport investments with compact development principles that minimise land take, protect biodiversity, and reduce habitat fragmentation.

9. Achieve the International Organisational Standard on Energy Management Systems (ISO 50001) accreditation, to increase the NTA’s capacity to continuously improve energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions.

10. Continuously improve organisational sustainability and efficiency, on the journey towards becoming climate neutral.

Transport Planning

1. Foster and develop enhanced integration between transport provision and land use planning and practice, with a specific focus on supporting compact growth and transport-oriented development.

2. Prepare Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) for the urban nodes of Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick, and reviews of the existing Regional and Metropolitan Area Transport Strategies, in line with EU TEN-T regulations.

3. Manage a programme of transport strategies and plans for other urban areas across the country, in collaboration with the local authorities and Regional Assemblies.

4. Develop environmental monitoring and reporting systems to enhance sustainability in transport strategies and transport development.

5. Monitor the implementation of the transport strategies through the relevant plans, programmes and projects to ensure alignment with the objectives set out in the strategies.

6. Develop and maintain guidance and tools to support transport planning and transport investment decisions.

Transport Infrastructure

1. Continue to progress the programme of active travel infrastructure, including the implementation of 800km of active travel projects.

2. Advance the BusConnects programme, with a total of four core bus corridors completed across Dublin and Cork, as well as the Galway Cross City Link, while having four other core bus corridors under construction.

3. Progress the development of the Cork Northern Distributor Multi-modal Route to facilitate sustainable transport provision in Cork.

4. Replace the existing tram fleet on the Luas Red Line and increase capacity on the Green Line. Commence construction of Luas Finglas, while also planning and seeking planning consent for additional Luas lines in Dublin and Cork.

5. Progress the MetroLink scheme up to, and including, the commencement of construction.

6. Ensure that DART services have commenced operation on the Northern line to Drogheda and the South-East line to Wicklow, as well as having commenced construction of DART+ West and, subject to funding, DART+ South-West.

7. Complete double-tracking of the Glounthaune to Midleton train line.

8. Continue to protect and provide for connectivity to the TEN-T networks.

9. Secure planning consent for a new coach station at Heuston or another identified hub location.

10. Construct five strategic park and ride facilities, with a further five ready for construction.

11. Implement appropriate oversight and delivery frameworks to help ensure the effective delivery of the overall infrastructure programme.

12. Aim to maximise the delivery of projects within the funding available, keeping a constant focus on achieving value for money.

13. Support our delivery partners, transport providers, Regional Assemblies and local authorities, by developing and maintaining guidance and training to support infrastructure development and delivery.

Transport Services

1. Further develop the subsidised public transport services framework, setting out the key priorities as well as providing direction on the sustainable funding of these transport services in line with future developments.

2. Enhance the delivery of licensed, commercial bus services through relevant interventions including regulatory changes, helping to improve accessibility, reliability, and integration of commercial bus services into the wider public transport network.

3. Continue to enhance the network of public transport services, responding to customers’ changing needs.

4. Promote sustainability and innovation in licensed, commercial bus operations to support Ireland’s climate and mobility goals.

5. Complete the national fares strategy rollout.

6. Complete the rollout of the BusConnects network redesign in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford.

7. Complete the rollout of Connecting Ireland as well as implementing ten new or expanded town bus services.

8. Procure high-quality and accessible, bus and rail services, through direct award and publicly tendered contracts, ensuring value for money.

9. Effectively manage the delivery of contracted public transport services, taking steps to enhance the operational performance and service reliability of bus and rail networks.

10. Leverage the latest technologies and data insights to continuously enhance services and customer experience.

Transport Safety & Regulation

1. Actively engage with the Department of Transport and key stakeholders in developing a framework to strengthen security arrangements on public transport, including the establishment of a new Transport Security Force in line with the current Programme for Government.

2. On an ongoing basis, consider and make appropriate interventions to enhance the safety and security of service users.

3. Improve understanding of SPSV service levels and availability, including for those with accessibility needs, through further research, collaboration with stakeholders and increased use of technology.

4. Enhance SPSV services – including in rural areas and for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) users – and progress the decarbonisation of the SPSV fleet, through grant assistance, regulation and other measures.

5. Maintain high levels of compliance and continue to develop the regulatory regimes around vehicle clamping, commercial bus services licensed by the NTA and the EU Passenger Rights Regulations.

6. Rollout a new regulatory framework under the Critical Entities Resilience Directive, ensuring identification of essential services and critical entities, enhancing transport resilience in Ireland.

Stakeholder Engagement

1. Effectively communicate with the public on the NTA’s programme of work.

2. Build awareness of the NTA’s role in delivering effective, sustainable transport solutions all around Ireland.

3. Develop and maintain strong relationships with sector stakeholders.

4. Ensure that the NTA is effective in addressing feedback received through public consultations, building trust with the public.

5. Effectively facilitate and engage with the Transport Users Advisory Group and the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles.

6. Effectively respond to and proactively engage with elected representatives, including Oireachtas, Regional Assembly and local authority members.

People & Organisation

1. Conduct periodic organisational reviews to ensure the NTA has the appropriate structure, office locations, staffing and culture to successfully achieve its objectives.

2. Provide comprehensive training and development support, tailored at an individual employee level, helping enable our people to reach their potential.

3. Embed equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in our work environment so that people of all backgrounds and cultures can feel comfortable and work together effectively.

4. Maintain effective and up-to-date Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions to support evidence-based decision making.

5. Oversee the cybersecurity posture and resilience of the NTA, transport operators and key suppliers.

6. Complete the implementation of the new Financial Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System and integrate it with NGT.

7. Drive the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the NTA, in a safe and responsible manner to achieve productivity benefits.

8. Establish the Competent Authority function to oversee entities in the roads sector under the NIS2 Directive.

9. Maintain high standards in organisational efficiency and effectiveness, helping to ensure value for money is achieved.

10. Ensure robust governance arrangements are maintained, including regular audits of governance practices and Board effectiveness.

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