182. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if, following the interim evaluation of the first supervised injection facility in Dublin, work has been carried out to progress a similar facility in Cork; to provide an outline of the findings of that interim evaluation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28362/26]

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, Minister of State at the Department of Health: The independent evaluation of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery, assessed the expansion of harm reduction as a significant accomplishment. 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 and the facility opened on 22 December.

I am happy to report that between launch and 13th April 2026, the facility has been attended by 1,700 individual clients who have made a total of 19,700 visits. Crucially, there were over 300 successful interventions to prevent a fatal overdose. I provided additional funding to extend the opening hours of the facility to meet presenting demand.

The HSE is overseeing an evaluation of the 18-month pilot phase of the facility. An interim evaluation    was completed following 6 months of operation of the facility.

The final evaluation of the 18-month pilot phase of the facility will inform decisions on whether to continue to licence this facility and to licence the establishment of similar facilities in other areas of need, such as Cork.

I am committed to a health led response to drug use including the provision of harm reduction initiatives based on population need.