Policy / Research

Mapping Northern Ireland: State of the Sector Report 2025

The last State of the Sector report for Northern Ireland, published by the Community Transport Association (CTA) in 2010, has now been updated with the release of the Mapping Northern Ireland State of the Sector 2025 report. This new report reflects the ongoing research into the sector's developments.

This vital research was made possible thanks to funding from Dormant Assets NI, with special thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund, who continue to support and engage with the project.

At its heart, this research focuses on the people involved—those who rely on community transport services and those who make them possible.

Over the past year, we’ve worked closely with both primary and secondary members across Northern Ireland to better understand the challenges of delivering frontline transport services. As with many research projects, our approach evolved in collaboration with community operators, allowing us to adapt and produce two distinct reports.

Key Findings

The Mapping Northern Ireland: State of the Sector Report 2025 is part of CTA’s ongoing UK-wide work, which includes findings from both primary and secondary operators. This broader report highlights key gaps, such as the need for increased engagement with secondary members. It will also guide CTA’s future workplan and help inform the support we offer to members moving forward.
Key areas covered in the report include:
•    Community Transport Operators (CTOs)
•    Income
•    Staff and Volunteers
•    Services
•    Vehicles
•    Policy and Priorities

You can download the full report here.

Driving Change: Shaping the Future of Community Transport in Northern Ireland

In addition to the broader report, we have produced a separate, focused report on our primary members in Northern Ireland. This report pays particular attention to the services they provide through funding from the Department for Infrastructure, such as the Rural Transport Fund and the Transport Programme for People with Disabilities.

This additional report was created to address specific issues and offer calls to action. It aims to serve as a starting point for shaping the future direction of community transport in Northern Ireland.

Key areas covered include:
•    Community Transport Structure and Funding
•    Passenger Usage
•    Vehicles
•    Electric Vehicle Readiness
•    Staff and Volunteers
•    Community Transport Strategic Relationships

You can download the full report here.

Join the Conversation
We’d love to hear what you think of the Mapping Northern Ireland report. 


Send us an email to niteam@ctauk.org or frances.campbell@ctauk.org