Press Release: Sunday 22 December 2024
Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Colm Burke grants licence for Ireland’s first pilot Supervised Injecting Facility in Dublin city centre
Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Colm Burke has, on Saturday 21 December, granted a licence to Merchants Quay Ireland to operate Ireland’s first pilot Supervised Injecting Facility (SIF), under the Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Act 2017.
The facility located in the Riverbank Centre in Dublin city centre will offer a safe, clean and supervised space where individuals can inject drugs, under the care of trained medical professionals. It is expected that the facility will open to users today, Sunday, 22 December. The licence is for a period of 18 months, during which the effectiveness and impact of the pilot facility will be evaluated.
The purpose of the licence is to provide a dedicated facility to reduce the harms associated with injecting drug use. These harms include the risk of drug overdose and associated premature death, the transmission of infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C, and the litter and anti-social behaviour associated with injecting drugs on the streets.
Minister Burke said:
“I’m very pleased to grant the licence for Ireland’s first pilot supervised injecting facility. The facility is a landmark development in our health-led approach to injecting drug use. It prioritises the health and social needs of people who inject drugs and reduces the stigma and marginalisation associated with on street injecting drug use.
“I have added conditions to the licence that emphasise a continuing and positive engagement with the local community and a holistic response to the needs preferences, beliefs, experiences and expertise of the patients who use the service.
“I commend the HSE and Merchants Quay Ireland for the development and delivery of this pilot service. I am particularly heartened that the facility will be able to open at a time of year when people who inject drugs face heightened isolation and vulnerability.”
The licencing of the SIF meets a commitment in the Programme for Government and the National Drugs Strategy, It also aligns with a recommendation from the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use to take measures to reduce the barriers to implementing harm-reduction approaches without undue delay.
The SIF will play an important role in the community by:
- addressing the issue of drug-related litter in public spaces;
- reducing pressure on emergency services, namely An Garda Síochána and health services (hospitals and ambulance services), by preventing overdoses and overdosed-induced deaths;
- serving as an important point of contact for those seeking help, by offering referrals to addiction treatment, mental health support, primary healthcare and social services;
- reducing the amount of people injecting in public spaces;
- facilitating medical staff in reaching out to and treating vulnerable, marginalized groups who often do not or cannot engage with existing health services; and
- providing immediate medical intervention if necessary.
The SIF will be operated on a pilot basis for 18 months, during which there will be an independent evaluation. The potential for continuing the existing facility and expanding the number of new facilities will be considered at that time.
