Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
680. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the recommendations set out in a report (details supplied); the proposed review of noise regulation; the development of best practice guidance for local authorities managing night time venues in mixed use urban areas; the steps, if any, his Department has taken to advance these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14796/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Report of the Night-Time Economy (NTE) Taskforce was noted by Government and published in September 2021 and contains 36 practical recommendations in the areas of regulation, licensing, planning, transport, safety and increasing the diversity of activities as part of the night-time offering.
The Department of Culture, Communication and Sport leads the Implementation Group of the Taskforce Report. Work is progressing to implement the 36 actions laid out in the report in conjunction with the NTE Sector, relevant Government Departments, including my Department, and Agencies.
In relation to planning and urban policy supporting the NTE, planning guidance has been issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, which recognises the role of the NTE as an active element of planning for sustainable communities and urban revitalisation and provides guidance to facilitate a complementary mix of day time and night time uses to generate activity within urban centres.
The ‘Development Plans Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ (July 2022) promote consistency in integrating development and zoning objectives in city and county development plans, which provide the policy framework for decision making on individual planning proposals in the development management process. These Guidelines recommend that development plans include an objective for the preparation of a ‘Community, Social and Cultural Infrastructure Audit’ to identify existing assets and determine the need for new arts and cultural facilities within their administrative area.
In addition, the ‘Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ (January 2024) set out that planning authorities should plan for a diverse range of uses, including cultural uses, and for the adaption and re-use of the existing building stock and activation of outdoor spaces in city and town centres.
In terms of noise regulation, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the national authority for overseeing the implementation of the Environmental Noise Regulations, and this agency, in addition to responsibility for noise policy, is under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment. In this regard, my Department has inputted to the Working Group on the ‘Agent of Change’ (Action 18) that was established by the Department of Culture, Communication and Sport under the NTE Taskforce Report.
