Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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903.To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures in place to ensure that organisations that received funding under the late-night events (pilot programme) 2023 are not disruptive to residents living in close proximity to these events; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31190/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce recognised that noise is an issue that needs serious consideration if the protection of residential amenity and the operation of the Night-Time Economy are to be managed in a balanced manner and if our cities and towns are to develop as genuinely vibrant places to live, socialise and work.

The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage have joint responsibility of implementing Action 17 in the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce, see assets.gov.ie/198233/43608ada-27d4-4bb4-ad16-f1ea0f3ec1d0.pdf, which recommends ways in which to support residents who live in our busy towns and cities, and ways that can also support the sustainability, growth and development of our Night-Time Economy Sector and work is underway in relation to progressing this action.

In addition, I allocated €2million in capital funding in 2023 towards the Noise Mitigation Grant Scheme. This scheme aims to help build and improve relationships between late night venues and the local communities that surround them, by supporting venue owners to take pro-active steps to implement noise mitigation measures to better control and reduce sound emissions from their venues.

In July 2023, I announced €800,000 in funding to the Arts Council to support and administer the Late Night Events Pilot Programme. The selection process of the 14 pilot projects was led by the Arts Council, and each application underwent a rigorous assessment. The Late Night Events Pilot Programme is intended to further extend and diversify the offering for later night activity and provide opportunities for new and exciting work, encouraging new audiences into existing cultural facilities in a sustainable way.

The pilots will also seek to identify and address any challenges which venues may associate with staying open late including any potential issues with noise. Each pilot will be required to undertake research and take part in an evaluation to identify any issues, challenges or opportunities that arose in relation to staying open later.

We will continue to work with our colleagues across Government to identify and support the delivery of any strategic and/or regulatory change that is needed, to manage the impacts that noise from the night-time economy may have on local residents and businesses.