Supervised injection facility 'drastically needed' for Cork after suspected overdoses

Colm Kelleher said the city has been talking for years about the need for a permanent supervised injection facility, but a mobile facility could be up and running within months

The Lisbon system includes a mobile unit — a converted Mercedes Vito van staffed by a trained paramedic, a driver, and a security worker. A similar unit here could be kitted out for between €100,000 and €150,000, Mr Kelleher said. File Picture: PA

A mobile supervised injection facility (Sif) is needed in Cork urgently to help save lives, a former lord mayor has said in the wake of the deaths of two young men.

Fianna Fáil councillor Colm Kelleher was part of a multi-agency delegation which visited Lisbon, Portugal, in 2023 to view the city’s medically supervised drug injection system.