Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin and Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan have co-hosted a workshop in The Chocolate Factory aimed at revitalising the nighttime economy, according to a statement published on Gov.ie, which said that representatives from organisations relating to the sector participated in the event, and sought to identify how artistic, creative and community spaces can be supported by the planning and development system.
The workshop is took place in direct response to Action 16 in the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce, according to the statement published on Gov.ie.
Statement By Minister Martin
The statement pubished on Gov.ie included a statement from Minister Martin that said, "We have heard loud and clear throughout the development of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce Report that we need more artistic, creative and community spaces which can operate and support the Night-Time Economy and we all want to see our planning and development system supporting this need. Cultural spaces are really important for our communities and individuals and this importance shouldn’t be underestimated. It can bring communities together, make people feel more engaged and part of something bigger than themselves. We want to use the collective knowledge within this room today, to look at challenges and potential solutions. Helping to develop a more vibrant night-time economy is not the job of any one department or minister - it involves all of us working together and trying to make things happen."
Statement By Minister Noonan
The statement published on Gov.ie also included a statement from Minister Noonan that said, "The night-time economy is a key economic sector of our cities and towns and also one of the things that makes them great places to live in and visit. Supporting this through a town centre first approach that maximises the use of vacant buildings and encourages the development of quality public spaces is part of our agenda to invest in regeneration and amenities that benefit local communities in the widest sense. In doing this, it's important too that a vibrant night-time economy doesn't impact negatively on town centre living. Issues such as safety and noise can be addressed through collaborative actions led by local government. We need to ensure that the necessary procedures and systems that regulate the night-time economy are fit for purpose and can respond to the needs of those working in the area. Through this workshop, we can learn from the many voices interested in seeing a lively and successful night-time economy maintained - hearing the different experiences and suggestions on how changes can be made. I look forward to these learnings being drawn together to develop improvements and best practice approaches that reflect the energy and commitment of those attending."
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