Dublin City to pilot late-night welfare initiative "Nee Naw"

Dublin City Council, supported by Ireland's Department of Justice, has announced the official launch of a new late-night welfare initiative, Dublin Nights Help Zone. 

Dublin City Council says this mobile safe space is designed to provide support to individuals who may need assistance during a night out in Dublin City Centre — whether they’re feeling unwell, overwhelmed, or simply in need of a calm and friendly place to regroup.

The Help Zone will operate as a clearly branded mobile unit stationed on busy Camden Street, running every Friday and Saturday night from 10:00 pm to 3:00 am.

Staffed by a dedicated welfare team — including a medic, welfare officer, two trained security personnel, and a site operator — the Help Zone offers non-judgmental, approachable support for anyone in need.

The six-to-eight week pilot period begins this Friday, July 4.

“While officially known as the Dublin Nights Help Zone, the service will also be affectionately referred to in public as ‘The Nee-Naw,’ chosen to make the service feel more approachable and easier to identify," Ray O’Donoghue, Dublin’s Night-Time Economy Advisor, explained.

"It’s about making sure help is visible, stigma-free, and easy to access.”

Dublin City Council said that the initiative, funded by the Department of Justice, "reinforces a commitment to community-based safety and harm reduction in Ireland’s night-time economy."

The Dublin Nights Help Zone is part of the national Night-Time Economy Advisor Pilot Scheme, promoting innovative, people-centred approaches to creating safer, more inclusive cities after dark.

Cllr Racheal Batten, Chairperson of the Economic Development and Enterprise SPC, said: “This is about providing real, practical support in the heart of our city’s nightlife.

"The Dublin Nights Help Zone sends a strong message that we care about the safety, wellbeing, and dignity of everyone enjoying Dublin at night.”

Richard Shakespeare, Chief Executive of Dublin City Council, added: “The Dublin Nights Help Zone is a practical, people-focused initiative that supports our goal of making Dublin a safer, more welcoming city at night.

"By providing real-time welfare support in a key nightlife area, this pilot demonstrates how cities can actively support vibrant night-time activity while prioritising public safety and well-being.”

Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary, An Garda Síochána, Dublin Metropolitan Region, added: “An Garda Síochána is committed to making Dublin safer, and this includes our vibrant night-time scene.

"We welcome the Dublin Nights Help Zone initiative, which will provide a supportive space for people enjoying the city at night and offer essential welfare services to those in need.”