Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2024
375. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the measures initiated and actioned for the night time economy by officers appointed in each city where a night time economy officer has been appointed, in tabular form. [10766/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn support of Action 19 of the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce, I approved funding for a two-year full-time post at Local Authority Grade VII scale in each of the local authorities selected for the Night-Time Economy pilots, namely Dublin City, Cork City, Galway City, Kilkenny, Limerick City, Drogheda, Sligo, Longford and Buncrana. Night-Time Advisors have been appointed in Dublin City, Cork City, Galway City, Limerick City, Kilkenny, Drogheda and Sligo and I understand the remaining post will be filled shortly. It is important to note that the Night-Time Economy Advisor is recruited and directly employed by the local authority who provides the Advisor with a reporting structure within the local authority that can best facilitate the role.
A Service Level Agreement is in place between my Department and the relevant local authorities. The agreement sets out the role of the Department, the role of the Advisor and the key objectives to be achieved during the two-year pilot, including a requirement to update the Night-Time Economy Implementation Group, which is chaired by my Department, of activities in relation to the pilots and share any wider policy issues impacting on the NTE at national level. They must also provide end of year activity report to the Department.
On foot of this agreement, all the Advisors are currently in the process of carrying out a consultation exercise and establishing their Night-Time Economy committees in order to draft an action plan for their areas. In parallel, a number of the Advisors have already begun the process of developing some initiatives around safety and late night cultural activities in their areas.
I look forward to seeing the outcomes of the pilots and the development of a vibrant, inclusive and diverse Night-Time Economy in each of the pilot areas.
