Injection Centre for Merchant’s Quay approved by ABP

An Bord Pleanála have approved an application for a supervised injecting facility for Merchant’s Quay in Dublin 8.

The approval comes after a series of appeals and challenges to the centre which originally received planning permission by the planning board in 2019.

ABP’s decision was then challenged in the high court by the nearby St Audoen’s National School.

Mr Justice Garrett Simmons ruled in favour with the school, saying that ABP did not adequately consider the school’s concerns.

The case was then brought back to An Bord Pleanala which has again decided to grant permission for the injection centre.

The facility will be the first of its kind in Ireland and will provide a safe, supervised space for drug users and addicts to inject themselves.

Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said injection centres help save lives.

“Drug injection centres, the world over, are an attempt to put humanity back at the heart of drug policy,” he said.

“More lives will be lost without injection centres and there is no real sense of urgency to protect vulnerable drug users.

“Injecting centres save lives. They prevent fatal overdoses. They prevent the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C,” he says.

Green Party representatives welcomed the planning board’s decision, with local councillor Michael Pidgeon saying it was “long overdue”.

“We need to get on with building this facility,” he says.

“Services like this are in place across the world.

“They are proven to save lives, reduce public injecting, and drastically cut the number of discarded, dirty needles on streets.

“People have died on the streets and in toilets around the area.

“Locals – including children – have been forced to live alongside needle litter and public injecting.

“No location will be universally accepted, but these centres have a proven record in improving the area around them.

“We need to get this centre up and running as soon as possible.

“Delays cost lives and do nothing to resolve this problem. It’s time to build.”

However, St Audoen’s National School said it was disappointed with the An Bord Pleanala’s decision.

“We will be taking time to review and digest the decision and the report of the Inspector as well as discussing all options available to the Board of Management with our legal team,” the Board of Management said in a statement.

“Whilst we fully appreciate that there are people in our society who require important medical intervention, we maintain the view as previously expressed that such services are inappropriate to be located so close to a national school, attended by some 200 young and impressionable children.”