Staff at nightclubs, pubs and festivals to get specialist training to tackle sexual harassment, violence against women and girls, and drink spiking at night. ‘Safe & Sound’ campaign aims to make Ireland’s nightlife safer for customers and staff.
Sligo Town becomes part of Government’s New Safety Training Initiative for Ireland’s Night-Time Economy Workers
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Minister for Culture, Communications, and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, has today launched a new, ‘Safe & Sound’ safety training initiative which includes new policy templates for a wide range of businesses in the Night-Time Economy such as pubs, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, theatres, cultural venues, festivals, gyms, taxi services, and more.
This training, which will be available free for 12 months in the nine Night-Time Economy Pilot areas (including Sligo, Dublin City, Cork City, Limerick City, Galway City, Kilkenny City, Drogheda, Buncrana, and Longford Town), will delve into the various aspects of vulnerability after dark. It is specifically tailored and developed for those working at night, providing workers with an increased awareness of their responsibilities and duty of care, and training in actions that must be taken to reduce identified risks.
The online training offers a number of express 30-minute modules in areas including:
- Anti-Sexual Harassment – Preventing and addressing sexual harassment in nightlife settings
- Bystander Intervention – Empowering safe intervention and support
- Drink Spiking Awareness – Prevention and Response Strategies
- Safeguarding and Vulnerability – Supporting vulnerable individuals
- Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) – Understanding and addressing gender-based violence
Announcing the training initiative, Minister O’Donovan, said:
“This training initiative and policy templates support a key recommendation in the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce and is another step in supporting our efforts to make Ireland’s nightlife safer, more inclusive, and more enjoyable for everyone. It also reflects my Department's commitment to supporting workers and businesses in the night-time economy with practical, accessible resources. By equipping people with the knowledge and confidence to act, we are laying the foundation for a cultural shift—one where safety, respect, and wellbeing are at the heart of our night-time experiences.”
Beyond the training modules, the "Safe & Sound" initiative will also provide a comprehensive list of resources nationwide to support businesses. Most importantly, and for the first time, there will be 17 policy templates specifically tailored to the Irish legislative context, the Irish cultural context, and frontline realities.
The policy suite covers the most critical safety and welfare areas, including:
- Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
- Sexual Harassment Prevention
- Bystander Intervention
- Drink Spiking Response
- Safeguarding and Vulnerability
- Mental Health Support
- Dispersal Management
- Drugs and Alcohol Use
- Crime Scene Preservation
- ...and more.
The initiative has been led by the nine Night-Time Economy Advisors, developed by Nighttime Economy Solutions (NTES), a global leader in the sector, and funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport through the Night-Time Economy pilot project.
Each policy is grounded in Irish law, and includes clear operational guidance for frontline staff, managers, and venue owners.
Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Donal Gilroy, Sligo County Council, said:
“I'm delighted to see Sligo be a part of the Safe & Sound initiative launched by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, alongside the other eight NTE pilot locations across Ireland.
This initiative offers very practical and meaningful support to NTE businesses, helping to create fun, safe, and vibrant evening and night-time experiences for both staff and patrons.
The Sligo Town Pilot is a true partnership between Sligo County Council and Sligo BID, and it’s fantastic to see such continued, collaborative efforts driving positive change in our community.”
Edel Doran, Sligo Town Night-Time Economy Advisor, said:
“The 'Safe & Sound' training provides a very practical resource for NTE staff to support their customers and colleagues. The portal can be accessed at a time that best suits businesses and their staff. It is wonderful to see this NTE Pilot launch simultaneously across the nine pilot locations and we are very proud that Sligo is a part of this brand new initiative. Sligo NTE businesses have continually shown a dedication to ensuring their staff and customers can have an enjoyable evening out and this portal is an additional resource to help support them.”
For those interested in signing up to the new ‘Safe & Sound’ Online Training Portal from Sligo Town, you can find details here.
Policy templates are available to all Sligo Night-Time Economy Businesses here.