Rail Accidents

126. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the number of collisions involving trains in Ireland in each of the past ten years. [67174/26]

On the evening of 3 September, Eoin Doyle, a 12-year-old boy, lost his life when the car he was travelling in was struck by a train in Kiltybo, just outside Ballyhaunis. It is incredibly sad and a devastating loss of life. His family and, indeed, the entire community are still in mourning and grief. I spoke to the family and their wish is that no family in the future will ever go through such a loss and such grief. My question to the Minister of State is what lessons will be learned. How many tragedies have there been on the rail network? How many collisions have there been?

Before I commence answering the question, I too extend my sympathy to the bereaved family of the boy and to the community. It is an appalling incident or collision and the consequences are life-changing. On the loss of the young boy, I say to the family, "May he rest in peace."

Amen.

I thank the Deputy for the question. Rail safety is an important priority for me and my Department. The total number of collisions involving heavy rail in Ireland between 2016 and 2025 amounts to 842 according to the 2025 annual report of the Commission for Railway Regulation, CRR, which was published in June. This figure covers a variety of collisions, with the vast majority due to train collisions with large animals on the line or other obstacles on the line. Train collisions with other vehicles are rare. In 2025, there was one train collision with a motor vehicle. No train-on-train collisions on active rail lines have occurred in the previous ten years. I can provide the Deputy with a table showing a breakdown of the year-on-year collisions and the category of these collisions based on the CRR report. The CRR is Ireland's independent railway safety regulator and has been a central part of the State's railway safety framework since its establishment under the Railway Safety Act 2005. Its core mission is to promote, oversee and enforce safety across the rail sector, ensuring that railway operators maintain the highest standards of safety for passengers, workers and the wider public. Through inspections, audits, authorisations, compliance monitoring and enforcement activities, the CRR works to ensure operators meet both national and European safety requirements.

Eoin was a wonderful young boy. He was a very talented Gaelic footballer, soccer player and golfer. He even won an athletics event in the weeks before his passing. He had the opportunity to meet the Mayo team with the Sam Maguire Cup as well. Like his parents, grandparents and wider family, he was very involved in the local community. I am aware of the crossing where the incident took place. It is extremely rudimentary in nature. Visibility there is poor. Indeed, there was strong mist on the evening as well. The crossing, like many others, is a death trap. Many motorists are completely unaware of such a significant hazard that lies ahead. Since the incident, I have been contacted by many people across County Mayo who have outlined to me the near misses they also had. The technology is available. We need to replace those user-operated crossings with automated barriers and significant warning systems and sirens. The technology is there. It is widely available and is cheap. In fact, it is used across every apartment complex in Dublin and in other cities and car parks across the country.

I have given some data on this, and there is more data in the reply, which I will not read out. It is there for the Deputy to read. It is important that I do not comment on a matter that is under investigation. We have to respect the investigations that are ongoing. A preliminary examination by the rail accident investigation unit, which is the independent national investigation body into the accident that occurred at level crossing XM 160, is ongoing. Decisions made by that investigation unit will be based on the outcome of that examination. The CRR, the independent national safety authority, is also carrying out its initial assessment of the circumstances surrounding the accident. Decisions made by the commission will be based on the outcome of that assessment. As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport. The operation, maintenance and renewal of the rail network and level crossings on the network, including the level crossing referred to, is a matter for Irish Rail in the first instance. I will go back to the basic point that we cannot comment until the investigations are complete.

I appreciate that there is a review under way, how sensitive this topic is and the Minister of State's sincerity. I have read previous reports in relation to other incidents. I am calling for us all to work constructively together. This is above politics. We need to replace user-operated gates with automated gates. This is happening in every car park and apartment complex across this country. The technology is there. It is widely available and it is cheap. The truth is that many of these crossings are on local roads that have high volumes. I ask that lessons be learnt from this incident and that actions be taken in order that no family has to experience a similar loss and grief that comes with it ever again.

I agree with the Deputy. I was at the ITS Ireland conference in Limerick yesterday at which I saw the technologies that are available. Irish Rail is working with technologies to improve its lines. However, it is very important that we make sure whatever actions we take in relation to improving are correct and that they actually bring the safety standards up to where they are required. There are 868 level crossings in Ireland, of which 127 are known as occupation-type crossings. These include user-worked unattended occupational level crossings on private and public roads. Since 2008, and including the most recent accident in Mayo, there have been four fatalities at level crossings. It is important to note that on the day in question there were two accidents. The first took place at a level crossing on the Tullamore line when a train collided with a tractor. We then had the fatal accident as well. Some of the people who were discommoded by being removed from the first train were on the second train. It was just a freak occurrence. Unfortunately, it cost a life. That is why it needs a very serious examination of all of the level crossings. I accept the Deputy's point that the technology is there, but we have to make sure the technology will work and that it will hopefully remove the risk of ever seeing something like this happening again.