Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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271. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the alcohol-free night time events that will be included as part of the St. Patrick’s Day programmes in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. [8601/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Dublin St. Patrick's Festival is spread across the city in a variety of spaces including museums, music venues, theatres and outdoor spaces, with the largest of all being the National Parade on 17 March when thousands enjoy a free outdoor event for everyone in the heart of the city.

The Festival team curates a rich and diverse programme of events at the Festival Quarter at the National Museum of Ireland. This programme features a traditional to contemporary swathe of music, storytelling, performances, talks and comedy over 4 stages. While there is a bar on site, there is a restriction on the sale of alcohol until the late afternoon and there are no bars inside the tents where there is a family programme of events running from 12pm to 6pm each day.

The citywide programme 'One City' has a wide selection of entertainment from day to night including theatre shows in the Project Arts Centre, the Ark, the Gate and the Abbey. There are events in many of our iconic national cultural organisations including the National Gallery of Ireland, the Print Museum and local heritage centres such as No.14 Henrietta Street, Richmond Barracks and Epic Museum, to music concerts in spaces where no alcohol is served such as the Pepper Canister Church, plus a selection of historic walking tours through the city with Pat Liddy and a Ballad Walking Tour.

With specific regard to local and regional events around the St Patrick's Day festival, these are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland in line with its tourism development functions. I have referred this question to them for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.