Night Time Economy Noise Mitigation Grant Scheme 2023 (NMGS 2023): Your questions answered

The Night Time Economy Noise Mitigation Grant Scheme 2023 (NMGS 2023) will open for applications here from 4pm on 18th July 2023 and Stage 1 will remain open until 31st December 2023 or until the fund is exhausted, whichever occurs first.

Please read the Scheme’s Guidelinescarefully before applying.

This scheme is targeted at late night venues, such as nightclubs, late bars and late night venues that are in need of noise emission mitigation measures to reduce noise emanating from late night entertainment associated with the premises. This includes music of all genres, dance, and live performance in venues that are open late.

Businesses (whether sole traders, partnerships or incorporated entities) that operate from a premises that is not a domestic dwelling, and which is frequented by audiences or the public in general, may apply. This must be verified using an Auditor’s Certificate/Letter signed by an Accountant. The Auditor’s Certificate/Letter signed by an Accountant must detail the following;

a) Confirmation of the relevant VAT-Exclusive Turnover. While your business may have turnover relating to other sectors, only turnover that relates to live entertainment activity within the night time economy sector will be considered.

b) Confirmation that the company operates from a stated premises that is not a domestic dwelling and which is frequented by audiences, classes or the public in general.

c) Confirmation that the business has complied with its obligations in relation to tax registration, tax payments and filing of tax returns.

d) Confirmation that the applicant has not been in an undertaking in difficulty (has not entered insolvency proceedings) on or before 31 December 2022.

e) Confirmation that the applicant is not in receipt of other public funding for the capital costs to which the application pertains under this scheme.

f) Confirmation that the applicant has not been in receipt of State Aid exceeding De Minimis limits, including the value of the grant being applied for.

• The business must be located in the State.

• Profits of the trade or trading activities of the business must be chargeable to tax under CaseI or II of Schedule D.

• Businesses must have a current eTax Clearance Certificate from the Revenue Commissioners at the time of the application being approved for funding, and at the time of drawing down the funding.

• The business must have an annual VAT-exclusive turnover related to entertainment activity within the night time economy of €35,000 or more.

The Night-Time Economy is multi-layered, covering a range of sectors and stakeholders with a diverse offering including cultural activity, entertainment, hospitality, festivals, sport and retail activity, with the aim of providing a safe and secure space to work and/or socialise.

A vibrant Night-Time Economy is enabled by a well-designed public realm, effective transport solutions and different activities occurring at different stages of the 6pm to 6am Night-Time Economy timeframe.

A good Night-Time Economy should include a range of activities to suit all ages and interests and be a welcoming and flexible environment to do business and be creative.

This scheme is targeted at late night venues, such as nightclubs and late bars that are in need of noise emission mitigation measures to reduce noise emanating from late night entertainment associated with the premises. This includes music of all genres, dance, and live performance that generate noise emissions beyond 11pm.

The following businesses will not be eligible:

• Businesses that do not operate from a premises that is open to members of the public.

• Private Residences.

• Businesses that are not located in the State.

• Business that do not typically operate in the night time economy.

• Businesses with VAT-exclusive turnover relating to entertainment activity within the Night-Time Economy of less than €35,000 annually.

• Retail businesses e.g. arts & craft shops, etc.

• Casinos or Bingo halls.

• Third level colleges, ETBs and schools.

• Businesses who are in receipt of other public funding towards the capital costs for which the application is being made.

• Businesses who already received funding under the Commercial Entertainment Capital Support Scheme 2021 and/or 2022 for noise mitigation measures.

• Businesses in receipt of de Minimis State Aid which is (or would be upon receipt of this grant) in excess of €200,000 in any three fiscal-year period.

• Existing grantees of schemes run by the Department that are currently not in compliance with the Service Level Agreements issued and the associated drawdown procedures.

The following are eligible for funding, including, but not limited to:

• Noise mitigation measures to premises to improve the safety and comfort of customers, staff, and neighbours. These may include, but are not limited to:

• Installation/Replacement of noise cancelling systems
• Improvement/replacement of window and door seals
• Replacement of existing doors and windows with type approved acoustic doors and windows
• Sound insulation of walls, ceilings and floors
• Replacement of DSPs and/or loudspeaker systems for improved control of loudspeakers
• Construction of acoustic absorbers

• Installation of facilities/structures that assist in crowd management or stewarding that will reduce noise created outside of premises (i.e. in queues).

• Installation of structures designed to reduce noise in outdoor areas within the curtilage of the premises (e.g. noise barriers to reduce the noise from beer gardens).

• Fee for commissioning a report by a professional acoustic consultant who meets the professional membership criteria stated above.

The following are not eligible for funding, including, but not limited to:

• purchase of lands or buildings
• insurance
• legal fees
• personal IT equipment, PCs, Macs and associated software packages
• musical instruments
• vehicles
• consumables
• annual maintenance contracts
• rent
• staffing costs
• other ongoing or routine costs
• installation of any facilities/structures not directly intended to mitigate noise works and not recommended in the acoustic consultant’s report
• works to surrounding or third party premises
• works carried out and/or materials purchased prior to the issue of approval

This scheme will operate with a limited fund of €2 million. Due to the high volume of applications anticipated, it may not be possible to allocate funding to all eligible applicants. The Department will assess applications for eligibility strictly by order of date and time of receipt.

Grant payments will be made to approved applicants once invoices and evidence of payment by electronic transfer for all noise mitigation works carried out have been submitted to the Department for 100% of VAT exclusive eligible expenses.

Please Note: Prefunding is not available for this Scheme. Grant payments will be made on the basis of paid invoices submitted (matured liabilities basis).

This scheme will fund 70% of the cost of proposed noise mitigation works (including materials) and acoustic consultant’s report to a maximum of €70k. Only works which are recommended in the acoustic consultant’s report will be eligible for funding.

For Example:

Total cost of carrying out the works, including materials, and commissioning the report by an acoustic consultant = €100,000

70% of €100,000 = €70,000

The Applicant should apply for €70,000 in funding.

The Applicant is required to fund the remaining 30%, i.e. €30,000.

The maximum amount that is payable under this scheme is €70,000. To receive €70,000 in funding the total costs must be equal or exceed €100,000.

Invoices and bank transfers must be submitted for the total cost of carrying out the works.

Applicants who commission an acoustic consultant’s report and choose not to proceed with carrying out the noise mitigation works may still apply to draw down funding covering 70% of the cost of the report.

Following completion of the works and submission by the applicant of a drawdown request, the grant will be paid to the business’ bank account by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), using the bank details supplied on the application form.

As set out in the NMGS guidelines, the scheme operates on the basis of paid invoices submitted. Businesses are required to retain all evidence and documentation which supports the basis for making a claim under the Scheme as this may be requested by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (D/TCAGSM) under future eligibility checks.

The Department will arrange to carry out spot-checks to ensure compliance with the qualifying criteria and for auditing purposes.

Please read the NMGS guidelines before starting your application. The application portal for this Scheme will be made available on the Department’s website at 4pm on 18th July 2023.

Applicants can apply here by creating an account and clicking on the “New” button to complete Stage 1 of the form. Applications will be assessed for eligibility at this stage in order of the date and time they were received, and eligible Applicants will then be invited to submit their proposal at Stage 2, provided there is still funding available.

Once the noise mitigations works are complete, applicants can apply to draw down the grant via the application portal.

In submitting the application, the applicant will be confirming that the application being made meets the criteria set out in the Guidelines for the Scheme.

Draft or incomplete applications will not be considered.

In order to allow us to check your tax clearance status you must provide a Tax Clearance Access Number (TCAN) along with your tax ID (requested in an earlier field). Your TCAN is provided upon successful application for Tax Clearance from Revenue. The Department must be able to verify the tax clearance status of all successful applicants in order to make payment to them. Your tax clearance status will be checked when assessing your eligibility for the scheme, and again before approving your payment. Your TCAN is not the same number as your tax ID.

Details of individual awards may be published on the Department’s website including, the name under which the business activity is carried out, the county in which the beneficiary is located, and the grant amount.

The closing date for receipt of Stage 1 applications is 31st December 2023. Please note: The Scheme may close earlier if funding is exhausted.

This scheme will operate with a limited fund of €2m. Applications will be considered strictly by order of date and time of receipt by the Department.

Stage 1: Assessment of eligibility

Applicants are required to upload the following documents:

• The most recent audited accounts/accounts prepared by an accountant.

• Auditor’s Certificate/Letter signed by an Accountant.

Stage 2: Proposal for Funding of Noise Mitigation Works

Applicants are required to upload the following documents:

• Acoustic Consultant Report

• Quotation for completion of noise mitigation works

Request to draw down funding:

• Paid invoices (marked ‘Paid’ or supported by a receipt)

• Electronic bank transfers for all transactions being claimed for

• ‘Before and after’ photos of noise mitigation measures if implemented

A typed signature should be provided where indicated on the last page of the application form. You will then receive an email from submit.com with a link which you must click on in order to authenticate your signature.

An appeal may be made by an applicant if the applicant considers that the process for reviewing Stage 1 of their application was not adhered to.

An appeal may also be made by an applicant if the applicant considers that the assessment of their application at any stage in the application process was not adhered to.

The applicant must be in receipt of a decision email in order to make an appeal. An appeal must be made within 5 working days of the date on the decision email.

Appeals submitted after this date will not be accepted.

See further information on appeals here.

All queries can be emailed to NMGS@tcagsm.gov.ie If you have an application number, please remember to include this in all correspondence.

If you have begun your online application and submitted it or saved it as a draft, you can also use the ‘Mail’ option on the application portal to contact the Night Time Economy team.

Please note that this document may be updated from time to time.