Limerick councillors back call for supervised injection clinic amid rise in drug litter

Councillors strongly support trialling a supervised injection centre as Limerick faces mounting drug litter and addiction pressures

Picture: Mario Tama/Getty Images.

A motion supporting the opening of a new injection clinic in Limerick passed overwhelmingly at a metropolitan council meeting amid the “proliferation of needles” across the city.

Local councillor Shane Hickey-O’Mara argued for a Medically Supervised Injection Centre (MSIF) to open in Limerick.

The first MSIF opened in Dublin last December as part of the national drug strategy.

In his motion, Mr O’Mara called for a safe injection clinic to be trialled in Limerick due to the “high number of people in addiction and the proliferation of needles and other drug detritus” in the city.

He said the move would provide “a safe, non-judgmental place for those in addiction to inject using sterile equipment under the supervision of a medical professional”.

“We need a health-led, compassionate response to the city’s drugs problem, one that prioritises the safety and wellbeing of those in addiction as well as that of the general population of our city,” he said.

Mr O’Mara said drug detritus is “routinely brought up” during council meetings, and urged councillors on the “Government side” to “pick up the phone” to health minister Jennifer Carroll-McNeil.

“She wouldn’t be a Minister without your work on the ground so please remind her of that and demand she helps Limerick through adopting this health-led, evidence-based initiative,” he said.

An updated report is expected from an expert group set up by Limerick mayor John Moran to tackle homelessness and drug addiction in the city.

Co-chaired by Mr Moran and councillor Sarah Beasley, the group includes officials from Limerick Council, the housing support services team, An Garda Síochána, the HSE, approved housing bodies, UL researchers and other volunteers.

The development comes as the Government was urged in the Dáil this week by Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice to consider a new safe injection facility in Cork.