Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 September 2026
169. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1218 of 12 May 2026, to provide an update on the final evaluation report into the 18-month pilot phase of the supervised injecting facility in Dublin; and if it will be completed and published by year end. [69072/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe expansion of harm reduction was a significant accomplishment of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery, as assessed by an independent evaluation of the strategy. It found that harm reduction initiatives were a central component of the health-led approach to drug use, with a focus on reducing the adverse health and social impacts associated with drug use.
One significant harm reduction initiative is the establishment of a supervised injecting facility. In December 2024, the Department of Health granted a licence to operate Ireland's first supervised injecting facility to Merchants Quay Ireland for a pilot 18-month period. From December 2024 to the end of 24th September 2026 there has been a consistently high demand for the SIF, with:
• 27,800 attendances at the facility
• 2,000 clients have used the facility
• 560 interventions in drug overdoses (all non-fatal)
In June I granted a twelve-month extension (https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/a42d21a1/Licence_Extensions_June_2026_Signed_by_Minister_Murnane_OConnor.pdf) to Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) to continue to operate the facility. It has now been licenced to operate until 21 June 2027.
The HSE is overseeing an evaluation of the 18-month pilot phase of the facility. The evaluation commenced in March 2025 and is ongoing. An interim evaluation report, covering the first six months of the operation of the facility (December 2024 to June 2025) has been published. It documents early evidence of the impact and effectiveness of the facility. (https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/8d8b010d/MSIF_Interim_Report_Exec_Summary_Infographic_FINAL_2026.pdf)
I look forward to receiving the report of the evaluation of the 18-month pilot phase of the supervised injecting facility which is due to be submitted by the HSE at the end of September. Publication of the evaluation is a matter for the HSE.
