Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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600. To ask the Minister for Health if Merchants Quay in Dublin 8 has been selected as the location for an injecting facility pilot scheme; and if not, the procedures for selection and timeframe for decision. [11808/17]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government approved the publication of the Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Bill 2017 on 7th February 2017. It is important to note that the Bill will not establish the location of the supervised injecting facility. However, it is envisaged that the first such facility would be established in Dublin city centre, where there is a significant, recognised problem of public injecting. In line with the experience in other countries which have established such facilities, it is expected that the location will be carefully selected to address, most effectively, the requirements and concerns of the service users and the wider community. The HSE has established a working group to support the implementation of the Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injection Facilities) Legislation. Its main purpose is to make recommendations on programme design and governance structures to inform an appropriate procurement process being organised by the HSE. It is intended that the pilot centre will be set up before the end of 2017.