Minister's response to railway level crossings review following Mayo tragedy 'disappointing'

DISAPPOINTMENT has been expressed with the response received from Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien following a motion to Mayo County Council calling for an urgent national review of user-operated railway level crossings.

The motion, tabled by Fine Gael Councillor Alma Gallagher, and unanimously supported by Mayo County Council in September, followed the tragic death of 12-year-old Eoin Doyle at the Kiltybo railway crossing outside Ballyhaunis on September 3.

Councillor Gallagher had called on the minister and Iarnród Éireann to undertake a comprehensive review of user-operated level crossings, prioritising locations where fatalities or serious incidents have occurred, and to examine the replacement of manually operated gates with automated barriers and modern safety systems.

However, Councillor Gallagher said she is disappointed with the minister's response, which doesn't go far enough in addressing the fundamental concerns raised in her motion.

"The response outlines existing safety procedures, inspections and risk assessments, but it offers no commitment to a new national review, no clear programme for introducing automated barriers, and no indication that Kiltybo will be prioritised for further safety improvements,” she explained.

In his response, Minister O'Brien confirmed there are currently 853 level crossings on the Iarnród Éireann network, of which 653 - or 76% - are user-operated and unattended.

Of these 653 crossings, just 80 have been equipped with Decision Support Systems (DSS), which provide train-activated warning lights and audible alarms.

Significantly, the minister confirmed that the Kiltybo crossing was fitted with a DSS in February 2022 and was last surveyed in May 2026.

Councillor Gallagher said this raises important questions about whether existing safety arrangements are sufficient.

"What concerns me most is that Kiltybo already had a warning system installed. Yet the crossing continued to rely on members of the public physically opening and closing gates to cross a live railway line.

"We need to ask whether this is an appropriate long-term arrangement, particularly at crossings used by motorists who may be unfamiliar with the area or the operation of railway gates.

"Technology has advanced considerably, and I believe we must seriously examine whether automated barriers and other modern safety systems can reduce the reliance on human intervention.

"The fact that a warning system is installed does not mean that every reasonable safety improvement has been exhausted," she stated.

Councillor Gallagher acknowledged that investigations into the Kiltybo tragedy are ongoing by the Railway Accident Investigation Unit, the Commission for Railway Regulation and Iarnród Éireann.

"I fully respect the independence of these investigations and the importance of establishing the facts surrounding this heartbreaking tragedy.

"However, I do not believe that we should have to wait for the conclusion of an investigation into one accident before examining the wider safety of user-operated crossings throughout the country,” she explained.

"These are two separate issues. One investigation must establish what happened at Kiltybo. A national review should examine whether our existing approach to railway crossing safety remains appropriate and what improvements can be made for the future."

While the minister's response outlines an ongoing programme of crossing closures and eliminations, including a projected 11 further closures by the end of 2026, Councillor Gallagher said this does not address the need to upgrade crossings that must remain operational.

"Closing crossings may be appropriate in certain circumstances, but it cannot be the only solution. Where crossings are required to provide access for rural communities, we need to examine how they can be made as safe as reasonably possible.

"I am seeking a clear commitment from the minister to commission a national review of user-operated public-road railway crossings, including the feasibility and cost of introducing automated barriers.

"I also want confirmation that the Kiltybo crossing will be specifically considered for further safety improvements, together with details of the risk assessment undertaken in May of this year."

The loss of Eoin Doyle has deeply affected the Ballyhaunis community and the focus must now be on meaningful preventative action, she added.

"At the heart of this issue is a young boy who tragically lost his life and a family who have suffered an unimaginable loss.

"No review or safety measure can undo what has happened, but we have a responsibility to ask difficult questions and to ensure that every reasonable opportunity to improve safety is properly examined.

"We owe it to Eoin's memory, his family and every community living alongside our railway network to ensure that this issue receives the serious attention it deserves."