As I mentioned before, Iarnród Éireann and Dublin Bus came into our Area Cttee. today.  We got some interesting information, but there was definitely no breakthrough on any major issue.

Iarnród Éireann

•    1. Lack of regular, clock-face Dart Services to Bayside/Sutton/Howth
•    2. Very low Dart frequency in the evenings especially Sunday evenings

No progress on either of these.  The issue is as set out here. 
The only explanation I can come up with is that IE have decided to save
a few euros by having one fewer driver on the evening shift.  The
result from the point of view of a resident of Bayside, Baldoyle,
Sutton or Howth is that planning to get a Dart from town in the evening
is a much less attractive option than it was 20 years ago, with waits
of 40 minutes on weekdays and 1 hour on a Sunday.

•    3. Integrated ticketing between Dart and Bus

Nothing. 
Talk about new systems.  No explanation as to why the existing system
which both DB and IE use at the moment is not used to provide
integrated tickets.

•    4. Blocking of disabled access to Howth Junction Station

Astonishingly IE appeared not to know what I was talking about.  Fortunately, Dublin City Council understands the issue and has put in planning conditions to address it, and Fingal County Council is taking enforcement action as although most of the station is in Fingal’s area, no planning permission has been sought for it.

•    5. Development potential at Howth Junction Station
•    6. Underpass at Bayside Station
•    7. Layout of car parking and access to beach at Howth Station
•    8. Parking enforcement at bus stop on Howth Station forecourt
•    9. Online timetable failing to show connections which can be made at Howth Junction.

Dublin Bus

•    1. 31C service waiting on the road outside Howth Dart Station
  blocking views of the pedestrian traffic lights and of crossing
  pedestrians

Issue not resolved.  This significant traffic hazard remains.

•    2. Routing of buses on Howth Peninsula – potential to extend
  the 17A to travel along Kilbarrack Road through Sutton Cross, over
  Howth Summit to Howth Dart Station.(with extra buses on the route of
  course) instead of the 31B.

Because only Clontarf Garage (31s) and not Harristown (17A) was represented at the meeting we couldn’t get any update on this.

There are some planned changes to the buses in the area.  All are
awaiting approval from the Department of Transport, many for long
periods of time.  There is no formal input from Councillors.

The 29A will extend along Grange Rd to a new terminus in Abbey Park. 
When this happens, the 32B will no longer go into Abbey Park, but
travel straight through to Portmarnock.

There will be a new route 128 from the area of the new train station
(near Fr. Collins’ Park) to Donaghmede Roundabout, Clare Hall and down
Malahide Rd to Rathmines, 14/15 buses – 10 minutes all day.