We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
A DECISION ON Ireland’s first medically supervised injecting facility will be further delayed, with the centre likely not to open until at least next year.
The charity set to operate the facility has been granted an extension by council planners to provide them with additional information on its planning application.
A medically supervised injecting facility (MSIF) is a place where intravenous drug users can go to inject drugs under the supervision of medical professional.
There are over a hundred such facilities in countries across Europe as well as in Canada and Australia.
Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) was awarded the tender to operate and manage a pilot programme for Ireland’s first MSIF early last year.
The homelessness and addiction support service is seeking to open facility in its Riverbank Centre on Merchant’s Quay in the south inner city. It applied for planning permission to Dublin City Council in September of last year.
The planning application was met with fierce local resistance, with businesses schools, residents and different groups all objecting to the centre.
In submissions to the council, people raised issues around an over-concentration of similar services in the area and of anti-social behaviour and crime.
Following this, DCC came back to MQI requesting that they submit additional information before a decision could be made on the application.
MQI is required to provide a detailed assessment on why the MSIF will not represent an over-concentration of such facilities in the area. It is also required to provide a detailed operation plan for the centre, including a policing plan for the area.
The charity originally had until May to submit this information, but this week was granted an extension by DCC. It must now submit the required information by the end of August.
Another delay
The request for more time is yet another delay facing the opening of the facility in Dublin, which was first mooted in 2015.
A commitment to open to centre is contained in the 2016 Programme for Government, and in 2017 laws were passed making it legal to possess and take drugs in the centre.
It was hoped initially that the centre could be opened by the end of 2017, but a series of setbacks mean that it will be at least next year before it opens.
Before then, DCC will have to make a decision on the application. Whatever decision is made, it will almost certainly be appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
This means it will be at least 2020 before the facility opens, if at all.
Commenting on the extension, a spokesperson for MQI said:
“To allow for a full and comprehensive response to be prepared, Dublin City Council have granted Merchants Quay Ireland an extension for submission of further information regarding the pilot Medically Supervised Injecting Facility until September 5th.
Over 700 lives are lost to addiction every year, and injecting facilities are proven to save lives. We share frustrations over the delay to the opening of the facility and will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure the earliest possible delivery of this vital and urgently needed health service.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I don’t understand how anyone can listen to Sheeran.
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: but you would get quite far down the road if you could. His music is symptomatic of the times. It may be unimaginative, bland but this is what it is meant to. How did we get to this stage? How were people’s expectations about songs and music in general so successfully lowered? And why?
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: And you listen to?
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: with their ears I would imagine kid
‘Four of the five were male’. Hmm I wonder what that statement aims to achieve
@sb: That you should listen to music based on the gender of the artist rather than your own personal taste.
It’s fairly mad to think that in another decade very few of these artists will be known at all. I doubt very much that many people will be listening to Billie Eilish or Post Malone in ten years time. There’ll be someone new
@John Lally: People still listen to Chris Brown and Macklemore. There thirst for dogshite music is relentless
Wherever about the rest, Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish’s must have some machine behind them, because their music is appalling.
If you are interested in the popularity of all music artists over the course of the past 50 years, watch this. It’s mesmerizing. There are also a few artists that will surprise you.
https://youtu.be/a3w8I8boc_I
@Peter Cavey: very interesting. I enjoyed that. For me that video shows 2000 – 2001 was where music fell off the cliff and lost all credibility when the likes of lilwayne, jayz and effin Britney spears joined “the hall of fame” Previous to that it was all the greats swapping in and out over 2 or 3 decades. After 2000 it became has beens. “Musicians” who came burned our ears and have ultimately and thankfully disappeared.
@Peter Cavey: Yeah interesting that. Hard to believe U2 barely got a look in, just near the bottom 1988/89
Surely Declan Nerney must have been neat the top?
Just goes to show…….You can’t trust ‘People’
Awful lot of music taste shaming going on in here by a bunch of auld lads who still think Status Quo should be number 1. Personally I feel Bohemian Rhapsody is the greatest song of all time though so…
@Whatever: regarding Bohemian Rhapsody: this video is absolutely brilliant. A chap listening for the first time. His reactions are just incredible.
https://youtu.be/npn027raQBo
have your say