Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 457: To ask the Minister for Transport if he plans to review the safety of railway crossings in view of recent accidents (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11228/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 464: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has held discussions with Iarnród Éireann in relation to the manual gate systems at railway crossings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11543/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 465: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of manual gate systems that exist at railway crossings here; and the number of these that are manned. [11544/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 466: To ask the Minister for Transport the legal position in relation to manual gate systems at railway crossings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11545/08]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for Transport the measures he is taking to improve rail crossing safety; when he will replace manual rail crossings with automatic crossings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11919/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 457, 464 to 466, inclusive, and 476 together.

Under the provisions of the Railway Safety Act 2005, the safety of the mainline railway network, including level crossings, is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in accordance with its Safety Case as accepted by the Railway Safety Commission under Section 46 of the Act. The Act also places a general duty of care on any person being on or using the railway.

The overall position regarding the closure or upgrading of level crossings is that, since 1999, over €122 million has been invested in a prioritised programme for closing or upgrading level crossings under the Railway Safety Programme which is funded by my Department. I am informed by Iarnród Éireann that a total of 581 level crossings have been closed and 373 upgraded under the Programme to date.

In addition, my Department has also committed to a €55 million road-crossing automation programme under Transport 21. Since this programme began in 2005, a further 34 level crossings have been automated at a cost of €25.5 million.

I also understand from Iarnród Éireann that there are currently a total of 1126 level crossings on in-service railway lines and that of these, 395 are road crossings (269 on public roads and 126 on private roads), 714 are field crossings and 17 are pedestrian only or staff crossings. Of the 395 road crossings, 190 are user operated road crossings (also known as occupation crossings) at 12 of which Iarnród Éireann provide attendance.

The level crossing upgrade programme is continuing in 2008 and I understand that Iarnród Éireann intends to upgrade a further 28 crossings at a cost of €4 million and to undertake minor upgrade works such as improvements to road surfaces, cattle grids and to sighting distances at a further 35 crossings.

I will shortly be establishing a task force to develop the next Railway Safety Programme for the period 2009 — 2013. The appropriate future level of investment for upgrading level crossings will be considered by this task force in that context.

I am informed by Iarnród Éireann that over €15 million has been invested on the Manulla Junction to Ballina line under the Railway Safety Programme on a number of measures to improve safety such as fencing, trackwork, signalling and structures as well as level crossings and that 16 occupation crossings remain on the Manulla Junction to Ballina line, representing 9% of all occupation crossings on the network.

The level crossing at Straide, which was the location of the tragic accident in February, was categorised as a high-risk crossing in a review of railway safety carried out in 1998. Consequentially, improvement works were carried out on the crossing in 1999 which, I am informed, resulted in the crossing being re-categorised and assessed as a crossing which can be used safely.

I am informed that an investigation by the Railway Accident Investigation Unit of the Railway Safety Commission is currently under way. The results of that investigation, including any recommendations to be made, will be published in due course.