David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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250. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason Waterford as the fifth largest city in the State was not awarded a night-time economy advisor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56240/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The application process for the pilot Night Time Advisor initiative was led by the County and City Managers Association (CCMA) with support from my Department and is in direct response to Action 19 in the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce. There were two categories - one category to include towns between 5,000 to 10,000 and another category for towns and cities of 10,000 + to ensure a spread across the country and to show different experiences and approaches in different communities. It was an open call process with applicants providing detailed information across a range of criteria. The evaluation panel was made up of independent members nominated by the CCMA and the Department. The independent evaluation panel reviewed and marked the applications and selected the 9 highest scoring applicants across the two categories were put forward for the pilot.

I recognise that there are disappointed applicants including Waterford. However, it is important to note that this is a pilot initiative. If the pilot proves successful, it is hoped to roll out the learnings to all the other local authorities.

The Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce which I launched in September 2021 recommended 36 actions to help stimulate and build a vibrant creative and inclusive Night-Time Economy right across the Country. These actions are well underway.

This year I allocated €4 million to the Night-Time Economy Support Scheme which supported off-peak entertainment in our towns and cities. Over 470 creative and innovative applications were received by my Department. I allocated funding to over 220 events in Waterford City which ran from July until October this year. I also funded a series of events on Culture Night this year which ran later into the night than in previous years and provided funding of €150,000 to these events across the country, including events in Waterford City.

A total of €6 million has been provided for the Night-Time Economy in 2023, to build on some of the foundational work started this year and also to help stimulate new ideas and new thinking in the Night-Time Economy.

My Department will continue to work with all the relevant Departments, Agencies and Stakeholders to improve and diversify our evening and night-time activities, not just in the NTE pilot towns and cities but right across the country.