A Late Night Welfare Van Is Coming To Camden Street
A Late Night Welfare Van Is Coming To Camden Street
Text: Izzy Copestake
The pilot scheme will operate from 10pm to 3am every Friday and Saturday night for a six to eight-week trial period.
A new ‘Help Zone’ pilot initiative is coming to Dublin’s Camden Street in June. The mobile welfare hub will be funded by the Department of Justice and supported by the Department of Culture and Arts, Dublin City Council, An Garda Síochána, the HSE and Dublin Fire Brigade.
Though based in a van, the help zone will stay parked at a fixed location on Camden Street, working as a clearly visible and accessible safe space for anyone in distress or in need of assistance while on a night out. Manned by a trained medic, a welfare officer, two security officers, and a site operator, the Help Zone is designed to offer immediate care and support, helping to de-escalate situations and reduce pressure on emergency services.
Building on the success of a pilot welfare area introduced during the busy Christmas period in the city centre, the Help Zone is the latest step in efforts to make Dublin safer. That initial initiative based near College Green, offered a static “safe space” with festival-style medical care and was also staffed by trained medics and security personnel. Although the pilot operated for a short time in December and saw modest use, it received strong support from emergency services and nightlife advocates.
The new scheme has been shaped in response to ongoing concerns from residents, local businesses, and emergency responders about late-night incidents, antisocial behaviour, and the lack of support for vulnerable people during nights out. Inspired by successful models in the UK and Europe, the Help Zone aims to reduce public disorder, ambulance callouts, and hospital admissions by providing immediate, on-the-ground assistance.
The pilot scheme will operate from 10pm to 3am every Friday and Saturday night for a six to eight-week trial period.
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