Permission has been granted by An Bord Pleanála for the development of a Medically Supervised Injecting Facility located in Merchants Quay Ireland Dublin 8. This location was selected for the development of Ireland’s first facility following a tender review process.
A Medically Supervised Injecting Facility (MSIF) is a safe, healthcare environment where people can inject drugs, obtained elsewhere, under the supervision of trained health professionals. They offer a compassionate, person-centred service which reduces the harms associated with injecting drug use and can help people access appropriate services. These services can help health service staff to reach and support vulnerable and marginalised people who often do not, cannot or no longer engage with existing health services.
The operation of a Medically Supervised Injecting Facility in Ireland is in line with Strategic Action 2.2.29 of the National Drug Strategy ‘Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery A health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025’ which recognises the need to respond with a health-led approach to injecting drug use, predominantly in Dublin City Centre. The aim of the facility is to provide enhanced clinical support to people who inject drugs and mitigate the personal and societal harms associated with public injecting.
The operation of the facility will be regulated by license under the Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Act 2017.
Once this service commences, there will be an 18 month pilot period for it to operate and this phase will be subject to evaluation. A monitoring committee will be established and chaired by the HSE and will include members from the Department of Health, An Garda Síochána , Dublin City Council, The Union for Improved Services, Communication and Education (UISCE) and other relevant stakeholders.
Further news will be added to Drugs.ie to report on the development of this service.
More information
- HSE 'About Supervised injecting facilities'
- HSE announce MQI as the preferred operator of Ireland’s first Medically Supervised Injecting Facility
- Merchants Quay Ireland 'About Medically Supervised Injecting Facilities'
- Medically Supervised Injecting Facility walking tour
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