Dublin’s late-night welfare van, the ‘Nee-Naw’, extends service into autumn
Dublin’s late-night welfare van, affectionately known as the Nee-Naw, is returning to the city centre this autumn.
The service is returning following an initial summer trial period that saw the Nee-Naw engage with more than 500 people over 14 nights.
The van will be back in place on Camden Street in the city centre this Friday, September 12, and will operate on subsequent Friday and Saturday nights between 10pm and 3am for another six to eight-week period.
Funded by the Department of Justice, it will again be staffed by a team of medics, a welfare officer, and security staff, with the goal to support people on a night out by providing directions, water or medical attention.
Dublin City Council, which operates the Nee-Naw service, said the initial trial was “hugely successful”.
Most interactions were “light-touch”, providing water, flip flops or general guidance. It added that staff were also on hand to deal with first aid cases and assist vulnerable individuals.
Ray O’Donoghue, Dublin’s night-time advisor, said the summer trial showed the real value of such a service.
“It has already started to embed itself into Dublin’s nightlife, making people feel safer while easing pressure on our emergency services,” he said.
“The feedback was overwhelmingly positive – from the public, businesses, gardaí, and residents – and this next phase will allow us to build on that success.”
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ray McAdam, said: “Initiatives like the Nee-Naw show how we can create a night-time city that is vibrant, welcoming, and above all, safe.
“I commend everyone involved, from the frontline teams to the organisers, for helping make Dublin a city that looks after its people.”
An autumn period for the Nee-Naw will see it supporting key events including Freshers’ Week, Culture Night and Dublin’s first NFL weekend later this month.
The rollout of the welfare scheme is a component of the national Night-Time Economy Advisor Pilot Scheme, and aims to promote an atmosphere of community engagement and harm reduction on nights out.
The Nee-Naw follows on from a previous pilot welfare area set up during the busy Christmas period last December, when a static “safe space” operated at Foster Place near College Green.