Culture
02 Sep 25

Government launches new safety training for Ireland's night-time economy workers

Minister Patrick O'Donovan. Credit: Houses of the Oireachtas

The online training will provide classes in sexual harassment, bystander information, gendered violence and drink spiking awareness

Minister for Culture Patrick O'Donovan TD has launched today a new 'Safe & Sound' training initiative that aims to make Ireland's night life safer for staff and customers.

The initiative includes new policies 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.

Staff at nightclubs, pubs and festivals will receive specialist training to tackle sexual harassment, violence against women and girls, and drink spiking at night.

This training will be available free for 12 months in the nine night-time economy pilot areas; Dublin City, Cork City, Limerick City, Galway City, Kilkenny City, Drogheda, Sligo, Buncrana, and Longford Town.

The online training offers 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.

"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," said Minister O'Donovan.

The programme aims to provide night workers with an increased awareness of their duty of care and training in actions that must be taken to reduce risks for staff and customers.