Social Impact Estimation Methodology

Abstract

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has a statutory responsibility to ensure that it obtains maximum social benefit from the funding provided to the CIÉ Group companies with which it holds direct award contracts for the discharge of public service obligations (PSO). To this end, NTA sought to establish a framework for the evaluation of social benefits, to be used where resources need to be prioritised. The purpose of this framework is to give NTA a basis upon which it can approve or initiate changes to socially necessary services, by providing the relevant information to support decision making in marginal or doubtful cases. The NTA will have discretion over the circumstances in which it will require the PSO operators to apply the framework.