315. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport if he has estimated the administrative and financial burden that the Railway Safety Bill 2026 will place on volunteer run heritage railways; if he intends to provide any support or exemptions for such operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.' [60803/26]

358. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport the extent of consultation undertaken with heritage and tourist railway operators prior to the drafting of the Railway Safety Bill 2026; the dates of such engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60802/26]

361. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport if he has carried out an assessment of the impact of the Railway Safety Bill 2026 on volunteer run heritage railways (details supplied) and other designated heritage operations; if he has consulted with heritage railway operators regarding compliance costs, criminal liability exposure, and operational implications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60790/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 315, 358 and 361 together.

The amendments proposed in the Railway Safety Bill 2026 for the application of Parts 9 and 10 of the Railway Safety Act 2005 expressly make it clear that Parts 9 and 10 do not apply to heritage railways other than a heritage railway which operates train services on the railway infrastructure of another railway organisation. Therefore, for example, a relevant heritage railway in the present day would be one that operates steam train services or a heritage railway that operates heritage or tourist train tours, on the Iarnród Éireann railway infrastructure.

It is important to be clear on the point that the amendments in the Bill to the Act of 2005 will not have any impact on the heritage railways that operate heritage or tourist train excursions on their own private railway track infrastructure.

When the General Scheme for the Bill containing proposals for amendments to Parts 9 and 10 of the Act of 2005 was initially prepared, contact was made with the safety officer of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland and the changes that were proposed were explained. There was no objection to the proposals because the driving of heritage train services on the Iarnród Éireann network is carried out under arrangements with Iarnród Éireann.

The Department intends, in accordance with normal practice, to contact any heritage railway that comes within the scope of the amendments in the Bill to set out the matters involved and, down the road prior to the commencement of any amendments, to consult with the heritage railway in respect of the timeframe concerned. There is no significant administrative, financial or compliance burden involved.