Max HeyraudLaunching on Friday, 4 July 2025, the Dublin Nights Help Zone, dubbed “The Nee-Naw”, is a new mobile safe space designed to support people on a night out in the city centre.
Whether someone’s feeling unwell, overwhelmed, disoriented, or needs a moment to regroup, this initiative offers a friendly, judgment-free place to turn to.
Located on Camden Street, one of the city’s busiest late-night areas, the Help Zone will be in operation every Friday and Saturday night from 10:00 PM to 3:00 AM for an initial six-to-eight-week pilot period. The branded Fiat Ducato van will be staffed by a welfare-focused team, comprising a medic, a welfare officer, a site operator, and two trained security personnel, one male and one female. Together, they’re there to help ensure that those navigating the night can do so safely and with support.
Dublin’s Night-Time Economy Advisor, Ray O’Donoghue, explains that the name “The Nee-Naw” was chosen to make the service more approachable and easier to identify. “It’s about making sure help is visible, stigma-free, and easy to access,” he says.
The Nee-Naw is supported by the Department of Justice as part of a national plan to make nightlife in cities like Dublin safer and more welcoming. Instead of policing nightlife, it focuses on meeting people where they are, offering real-time support that understands what a night out is really like. Whether you’re out dancing, working late, or just passing through, the aim is to provide help without making you feel uncomfortable.
Cllr Racheal Batten, Chairperson of the Economic Development and Enterprise SPC, sees it as a vital addition to the city’s nightlife ecosystem. “This is about providing real, practical support in the heart of our city’s nightlife,” she says. “The Dublin Nights Help Zone sends a strong message that we care about the safety, well-being, and dignity of everyone enjoying Dublin at night.”
The initiative is also backed by An Garda Síochána. Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary of the Dublin Metropolitan Region praised the effort, stating, “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.”
