Proposed new public transport security force will have powers of arrest

An NTA survey found that the perception of safety was lower on-board Luas trams, compared to that of buses and trains.

Existing security services on trains and the Luas are to be replaced by a new transport security force that will have beefed-up powers, including power of arrest.

The new force will be broadly in line with airport police, informed sources say.

Plans to introduce the new transport security agency are reaching an advanced stage, with multiple Government sources saying they are at the final stages of agreeing its structure.

There will be a central management structure to the new security force, with consideration being given to allow individual public transport operators to have devolved input.

Talks have been held between the Department of Transport and the State’s public transport operators towards progressing the security force, with a formal announcement expected before the end of the year.

Among the changes set to be brought about will be the replacement of existing security services with the new security force.

It is understood that existing security personnel will be able to join the new force, once it is formally established.

One senior source added it would be a “beefing up” and a “significant enhancement” of existing private security operators, with those in the role due to have powers of arrest.

Members of the transport security force will have jurisdiction for incidents which take place either on board public transport, or at a platform or bus stop.

Staffing for the organisation is likely to come further down the line, however, with the Department of Transport not seeking funding for the security force in last week’s budget.

There will be a requirement for consolidation of existing bylaws to introduce the transport security force.

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In response to parliamentary questions last November, transport minister Darragh O’Brien said he hoped to see the force operational by 2027.

The latest update on the transport security force comes as new National Transport Authority (NTA) research showed almost half of all passengers have felt unsafe at least once while using public transport.

The report, published in August, found 46% of people believe that antisocial behaviour on buses, trains, and trams became worse in 2025. This is a rise of three percentage points compared to 2024.

It also found that the perception of safety was lower on-board Luas trams, compared to that of buses and trains.

However, the NTA said the findings of the survey of more than 1,500 adults were “generally positive”.